Direct-to-Cell Technology and the Future of Internet Access During Shutdowns

The debate around connecting the unconnected continues within the ICT4D community, encompassing discussions on spectrum allocation and community networks. Still, a more pressing concern is the increasing trend of governments weaponizing internet shutdowns. While these discussions unfold, the ability of governments to restrict access is rapidly evolving, necessitating new solutions to ensure connectivity during crises.

The Escalating Crisis of Internet Shutdowns

Internet shutdowns are on the rise globally. Access Now documented 296 internet shutdowns across 54 countries in 2024, a 35% increase in the number of countries affected compared to 2022. Conflict was a major driver, triggering 103 shutdowns in 11 countries. The situation has worsened in 2025, surpassing the numbers seen in 2024. Currently, Iran is experiencing an internet blackout that began on January 8, 2026, impacting over 90 million people. Human rights monitors have confirmed over 6,200 deaths during the blackout, with reports suggesting the actual number is significantly higher.

Direct-to-Cell: A Potential Solution

Direct-to-Cell (D2C) satellite technology offers a promising solution by connecting ordinary smartphones directly to orbiting satellites, bypassing the need for specialized equipment like Starlink terminals. This technology could be crucial in maintaining communication during government-imposed shutdowns.

Why Internet Access is a Protection Issue

The development community is increasingly recognizing that internet access is not merely a development enabler but a critical protection issue. Internet shutdowns have cascading consequences:

• Hospitals struggle to coordinate care.
• Telemedicine services are disrupted.
• Humanitarian aid organizations are hampered.
• Access to vital helplines for domestic violence victims is lost.
• Human rights documentation becomes impossible.

The Limitations of Digital Sovereignty

Building “sovereign” internet systems, like Iran’s National Information Network, does not guarantee protection against shutdowns. These systems can still be used to enable rights violations and often include a “kill switch” for global internet access while maintaining government services. The technical architecture is less important than the political context.

Global Patterns of Shutdowns

The pattern of internet shutdowns is widespread. Myanmar’s military junta imposed 85 shutdowns in 2024, while India, the world’s largest democracy, recorded 84. Shutdowns have also been documented in Sudan, Ethiopia, Kashmir, Bangladesh, and Palestine. In 2024, authoritarian actors in Myanmar began specifically targeting Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet services, like Starlink, as people used them to circumvent terrestrial network shutdowns.

How Direct-to-Cell Changes the Game

While satellite internet via Starlink terminals has proven effective during Iran’s blackout, access remains a significant barrier. Acquiring and distributing Starlink equipment requires smuggling, technical expertise, and substantial risk. Iranian officials have threatened prosecution for owning or distributing Starlink equipment.

D2C technology eliminates the hardware problem. It connects standard smartphones directly to satellites, removing the need for terminals, dishes, or smuggling. This is no longer a theoretical concept.

• Starlink is piloting D2C with T-Mobile.
• Apple has deployed satellite-to-phone connectivity on over 200 million iPhones.
• AST SpaceMobile has demonstrated voice, text, and data connectivity to unmodified phones.
• Amazon’s Project Kuiper is building global satellite infrastructure.

Why the ICT4D Community Must Engage Now

The ICT4D community should prioritize D2C for three key reasons:

1. The deployment window is closing: If humanitarian applications are not integrated into D2C infrastructure during its development, they will likely be overlooked. Infrastructure will prioritize commercial markets.
2. Proof of concept exists: Starlink terminals already function during Iran’s blackout, demonstrating the viability of satellite coverage in restrictive environments. D2C leverages the same infrastructure, simply connecting directly to phones.
3. Scale is within reach: A few thousand smuggled Starlink terminals are insufficient. D2C has the potential to connect millions of existing smartphones.

For countries like Myanmar (55 million people), Sudan (46 million), and Iran (90 million), the shift from terminal-based to phone-based satellite connectivity represents a move from a pilot project to a scalable platform.

Challenges and Opportunities

While promising, D2C faces challenges. Satellite companies are businesses, and crisis zones are not inherently profitable markets. Regulatory hurdles, particularly around spectrum allocation in countries actively shutting down communications, are also significant. Geopolitical considerations, such as a US-based company providing internet access to countries like Iran, add complexity.

However, the ICT4D community possesses the experience to address these challenges, including creating sustainable business models for underserved markets, building regulatory frameworks, and coordinating multi-stakeholder interventions.

A coalition of human rights organizations, including Access Now, WITNESS, Article 19, the Strategic Litigation Project, and the Center for Human Rights in Iran, is already advocating for humanitarian D2C deployment, recognizing that connectivity during shutdowns is not a luxury but a necessity. The gap between confirmed and estimated deaths during internet blackouts underscores the importance of maintaining documentation capabilities.

The ICT4D community must actively shape D2C as humanitarian infrastructure to prevent it from becoming another technology optimized for wealthy markets while leaving crisis populations in the dark.