Iran is now facing what experts are calling the longest nationwide internet shutdown ever recorded. The blackout has crossed over a month, cutting off
millions from global connectivity. For a country that once had full access to the internet, the sudden shift feels drastic and deeply disruptive.
As of April 6, 2026, the shutdown has entered its 38th day. Data from Netblocks shows that connectivity has dropped to around one percent of normal levels. For everyday users, that means no social media, no open web, and limited access even for basic services.
⚠️ Update: #Iran‘s internet blackout is now the longest nation-scale internet shutdown on record in any country, exceeding all other comparable incidents in severity having entered its 37th consecutive day after 864 hours. pic.twitter.com/TmkesLqlKR
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) April 5, 2026
Iran’s internet blackout breaks global record
The scale of this shutdown is what stands out. Netblocks said, “Iran’s internet blackout is now the longest nation-scale internet shutdown on record in any country, exceeding all other comparable incidents in severity, having entered its 37th consecutive day after 864 hours.”
Earlier, Sudan held the record with a 36-day shutdown back in 2019. Iran has now gone past that mark. What makes this case different is that the country had full connectivity before this and then moved back to a restricted national network.
The shutdown began on February 28, following military tensions involving the US and Israel. Since then, access has been tightly controlled.
Daily life and business take a hit
The impact on daily life is heavy. People cannot access platforms like Instagram. Online businesses are struggling to function. Reports say hundreds of thousands of companies have been affected as digital payments, orders, and communication slow down.
Even the IT sector is feeling the pressure. Developers, freelancers, and tech firms rely on global internet access. With most of it gone, work has nearly stopped for many.
How does this compare to other shutdowns
Netblocks pointed out that Iran’s case is different from others. Some countries like North Korea never had open access to begin with. Others like Myanmar and Sudan have seen shutdowns, but they were either shorter or not total nationwide blocks.
The group noted that no war has pushed an entire country offline in this way. Even in conflict zones like Ukraine or Gaza, connectivity dropped due to damage, but not like this.
