- Iran’s internet shutdowns from December 2025 through January 2026 were the longest in the country's history.
- UN Special Rapporteur Mai Sato estimates casualties from the associated crackdowns range from 5,000 to 20,000.
- Iranian authorities have shifted to a "white-listed" model of internet access, blocking global connectivity by default through infrastructure-level control.
The Role of Russian Technology
- Analyses suggest significant Russian influence in the deployment of Iran’s censorship architecture, specifically relying on Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology.
- Protei, a firm with roots in St. Petersburg, has supported Iran’s interception, traffic management, and monitoring systems.
- Documentation for Protei's DPI platform confirms its capability to identify, block, or throttle specific protocols, including messaging, file sharing, and VoIP services.
Global Reach and Clients
- Protei serves numerous authoritarian regimes; its client list includes MTN Irancell in Iran, Tcell in Tajikistan, Uztelecom and Ucell in Uzbekistan, Zong 4G in Pakistan, and Safaricom in Kenya.
- Citizen Lab research from 2023 linked Protei to the development of mobile surveillance systems for the Iranian mobile provider Ariantel, covering user authentication and network signaling.
Corporate Structure and Outlook
- In 2024, the Russian state-owned telecom operator Rostelecom entered into a joint venture with Protei, with industry experts suggesting a potential full acquisition by Rostelecom in the future.
- Despite international scrutiny, Protei maintains operations across branches in Russia, Jordan, and Estonia, claiming to support over 400 customers and 300 million subscribers worldwide.