Iran Returns to Web Stone Age: Bans High Speed Internet

While scientists in UK are developing data transmission technology that could transfer data at the speed of 60 DVDs per second, the three million internet users of Iran are now forced to shift speed gears in the reverse direction.

The anti-internet regime in Iran has ordered the local ISPs to reduce the speed of Internet access to homes and cafes. The maximum bandwidth is now limited to 128 kilobytes per second (KBps) for the average Iranian.

This restriction doesn't apply to businesses in Iran yet. According to Guardian, the order follows a purge on illegal satellite dishes, which millions of Iranians use to clandestinely watch western television.

Dr Razavi summarizes the situation right - "those of us who are fortunate enough to have easy access to information tend to take it for granted and forget just how important access to knowledge is for those people who don't have it".

Time to keep those broadband modems inside the closet.

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