Rising internet prices, hidden data reductions, poor connectivity, and persistent filtering are increasing costs for millions of Iranians while undermining the country’s digital economy.
Internet access in Iran is becoming increasingly expensive, slower, and less reliable, adding another burden to households and businesses already struggling with the country’s economic crisis. While mobile operators have officially raised internet package prices by as much as threefold, users report that the real increase is even greater because of changes in how data usage is calculated, leaving many paying significantly more for access to the global internet.
At the same time, persistent network disruptions, extensive filtering, and declining service quality continue to damage Iran’s digital economy, affecting millions whose livelihoods now depend on stable internet access.
Hidden Costs Push Internet Further Out of Reach
Beyond official tariff increases, users say mobile operators have quietly changed the method used to calculate data consumption.
Previously, internet packages were measured primarily based on international internet usage, while domestic traffic was billed at a discounted rate. Under the new system, however, package volumes are reportedly calculated according to domestic traffic, meaning that every one gigabyte of international internet use consumes approximately 2.7 gigabytes of a user’s data allowance. As a result, customers effectively receive only about 370 megabytes of international internet for every gigabyte advertised in their package.
Many subscribers say they receive notifications that their packages are nearly exhausted despite only moderate usage, while operators provide little transparency regarding how consumption is calculated. Neither the mobile companies nor the Communications Regulatory Authority has publicly explained the new billing methodology or issued clear regulations regarding the changes.
Internet Prices Rise Far Beyond Official Figures
The impact extends beyond the headline price increases.
According to reported tariff comparisons, some internet packages have become 60 to 150 percent more expensive per gigabyte, as operators simultaneously raised prices and reduced data allowances. One package that previously offered 230 gigabytes for 350,000 tomans was replaced by a 140-gigabyte package priced at 528,000 tomans, dramatically increasing the effective cost of internet access.
Long-term comparisons indicate an even sharper trend. Between 2023 and 2026, the cost of one gigabyte in long-duration packages reportedly increased from roughly 8,000–10,000 tomans to nearly 40,000 tomans, representing an increase of around 400 percent. At the same time, operators have gradually eliminated many affordable long-term packages in favor of shorter, more expensive plans.
Internet Has Become Essential to Daily Life
These developments come at a time when internet access is more critical than ever for Iranian society.
According to the latest national survey by the Iranian Students Polling Agency (ISPA), 89.3 percent of Iranians over the age of 15 use the internet, while more than 55 percent say their income depends directly on reliable internet access. Additionally, 74.4 percent of users report paying for VPN services to access blocked platforms, with average monthly VPN expenses reaching 262,000 tomans.
For millions of people—including online retailers, software developers, freelancers, educators, digital marketers, translators, and technology companies—the internet has become a fundamental part of earning a living rather than simply a communication tool.
Poor Connectivity Continues to Harm the Economy
Despite repeated government promises to improve internet quality, users continue to report slow speeds, unstable connections, and limited access to international online services.
Officials within the Ministry of Communications have acknowledged the economic impact of these disruptions. According to Deputy Minister for Digital Economy Policy Ehsan Chitsaz, repeated outages and network instability impose daily economic losses estimated at between 400 and 600 billion tomans.
Technology experts argue that today’s internet functions as critical infrastructure comparable to electricity or transportation. When connectivity deteriorates, businesses lose customers, international transactions become more difficult, productivity declines, and operating costs increase because of reliance on VPN services.
Filtering Continues to Weigh on Businesses
The widespread blocking of international platforms has forced most Iranian users to rely on VPNs for everyday online activities.
According to official figures, roughly 74 percent of internet users use VPNs, illustrating both the persistence of internet filtering and the limited effectiveness of those restrictions in preventing access. Technology specialists note that widespread VPN usage itself contributes to slower internet speeds and reduced network quality by routing traffic through indirect connections.
Business organizations have warned that these policies have significantly harmed Iran’s digital economy. Reports indicate that around 80 percent of online businesses have experienced sales declines of more than 50 percent, while investment has weakened, skilled workers have emigrated, and technology exports have suffered.
Digital Restrictions Increase Public Frustration
Public dissatisfaction with internet services now extends well beyond the technology sector.
Ordinary users increasingly complain about unreliable messaging applications, poor-quality video calls, difficulties accessing international platforms, and the growing financial burden of purchasing VPN subscriptions in addition to increasingly expensive internet packages.
Analysts warn that deteriorating internet quality not only reduces productivity and economic growth but also undermines confidence among domestic entrepreneurs and potential investors. As internet access becomes more expensive and less reliable, the country’s digital economy faces mounting challenges that extend far beyond communications.
For millions of Iranians whose work, education, financial transactions, and daily lives depend on stable connectivity, internet policy has become an economic issue as much as a technological one. The combination of rising costs, declining service quality, and continued restrictions is placing increasing pressure on both households and businesses while slowing the development of one of Iran’s most important economic sectors.
