India, Jan. 13 -- TEHRAN, Iran, January 13 -Despite a near-total government-imposed internet blackout, some Iranians are still accessing the web using Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service, according to three individuals inside the country. This underground use of the banned technology highlights how the service is becoming a critical tool for communication in global conflict zones where authorities restrict access.

Iranian authorities have enacted a severe nationwide communications shutdown amid widespread protests, disabling traditional fiber-optic and cellular networks. However, three users inside Iran told Reuters that Starlink's satellite-based service remains functional in some areas. One user in western Iran stated he knows "doze...