[58339] The Formation of a Digital 'Black Market' in Iran: Exorbitant Prices for Unrestricted Internet Access

The Formation of a Digital 'Black Market' in Iran: Exorbitant Prices for Unrestricted Internet Access

According to reports on Telegram channels خبرفوری ࡆ اخبارفوری مذاקרה ࡆ جنگ فوری, a worrying parallel economy is developing in Iran surrounding internet access. As a result of strict filtering and censorship policies, access to the network, which was supposed to be a basic civil right, has become a valuable luxury product traded on a black market.

Data points to unprecedented pricing for these services. According to the خبرفوری channel, the price of 'White SIMs', which guarantee browsing without blocks, ranges between 44 and 120 million tomans. In addition, 'Internet Pro' packages are being sold at prices reaching 12 million tomans for only 50 gigabytes.

The reports, also backed by the اخبارفوری خبرفوری جنگ امریکا فوری channel, emphasize that the current situation exacerbates the 'digital divide' in the country, as only wealthy segments of the population can afford unrestricted access to the network. Small and medium-sized digital businesses are suffering severe damage due to high operating costs and technical restrictions.

Analysis of the situation in the publications of the 'Eghtesad News' agency, as brought in خبرفوری, indicates that the filtering policy has not only failed to achieve its goals but has become a growth engine for a black market parallel to other prominent illegal markets in Iran, such as the foreign currency, medicine, and automotive markets. In doing so, the network becomes a reflection of the broader economic and governance crisis in the country.