'They can’t block the sky': Inside an ingenious satellite TV hack bypassing Iran’s internet blackout — when the web goes dark, activists are smuggling gigabytes of data through ordinary television signals to keep the Iranian people connected to the world
During Iran's 2026 internet blackout, activists used a system called Toosheh to smuggle gigabytes of data through unencrypted satellite TV signals, bypassing government censorship. The technology embeds files like news, software, and medical guides into regular broadcast streams, allowing users to receive information without detection or interaction. Traditional jamming is ineffective due to the wide reach of satellite signals and built-in data redundancy. While limited to one-way downloads, Toosheh provides a resilient, trace-free means of information delivery under oppressive shutdowns.
- ▪Toosheh delivers 1 to 5 gigabytes of curated data via free-to-air satellite TV signals that are difficult for the Iranian government to block.
- ▪The system uses the MPEG transport stream to embed documents, videos, and anti-censorship tools without creating user logs or requiring internet access.
- ▪Terrestrial jamming is largely ineffective because satellite signals cover wide areas and Toosheh uses up to 30% data redundancy to reconstruct corrupted files.
- ▪Funding for Toosheh shifted entirely to private donations after the US State Department ended its support in August 2025.
- ▪Toosheh only supports one-way data delivery, meaning users can receive but not send information.
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Pro 'They can’t block the sky': Inside an ingenious satellite TV hack bypassing Iran’s internet blackout — when the web goes dark, activists are smuggling gigabytes of data through ordinary television signals to keep the Iranian people connected to the world News By Efosa Udinmwen published 28 April 2026 Satellite workaround exposes limits of centralized internet control systems When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
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