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Iran Sells Expensive White SIMs Amid 70-Day Blackout

5/11/2026

24 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Iran launched “Internet Pro,” selling expensive white SIM cards to select firms during a nationwide blackout.
The blackout has lasted over 70 days and costs the economy up to $3 billion daily.
Analysts say the shutdown has wiped out about two million jobs.
Entrepreneurs like Amir, who runs a 50-person clothing firm, report that 80-90 % of their online marketing is disabled and that women in e-commerce turn to state-run, non-encrypted apps.

History

Historical Context

During the Arab Spring, Egypt’s government ordered a near-total internet blackout on 27 January 2011, disabling about 3,500 BGP routes and disconnecting roughly 88 % of the network. A similar pattern reappeared when Iran’s authorities shut down most online services from 16 November 2019. Both cases show how authoritarian regimes use nationwide cuts to cripple economies and silence dissent.

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Story summary

Iran launched “Internet Pro,” selling expensive white SIM cards to select firms during a nationwide blackout.
The blackout has lasted over 70 days and costs the economy up to $3 billion daily.
Analysts say the shutdown has wiped out about two million jobs.
Entrepreneurs like Amir, who runs a 50-person clothing firm, report that 80-90 % of their online marketing is disabled and that women in e-commerce turn to state-run, non-encrypted apps.

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