Key Facts
- ✓ Iran experienced an IPv6 routing blackout detected on January 8, 2026
- ✓ Cloudflare's routing radar registered the outage affecting major Iranian ISPs
- ✓ Iran Telecommunication Company and MCI were among the affected entities
- ✓ The blackout specifically impacted IPv6 connectivity infrastructure
- ✓ Tehran was identified as a major affected geographic area
Quick Summary
Iran has experienced a significant internet blackout affecting its IPv6 routing infrastructure, according to data from Cloudflare's routing radar. The outage, which began on January 8, 2026, appears to be impacting the country's major telecommunications networks.
Key entities affected include Iran Telecommunication Company and MCI (Mobile Communications Company of Iran), which are among the largest internet service providers in the country. The blackout specifically affects IPv6 connectivity, which is the latest version of the Internet Protocol used to route traffic across the internet.
The outage was detected through Cloudflare's internet routing monitoring systems, which track global connectivity patterns. While the exact cause remains unclear, such routing blackouts typically indicate either technical failures or intentional network management decisions. The incident highlights the fragility of internet infrastructure and the potential for widespread connectivity disruptions in major population centers including Tehran.
IPv6 Infrastructure Failure
Cloudflare's routing radar has detected a complete IPv6 blackout across Iran's internet infrastructure. The monitoring system, which tracks global internet routing patterns, registered the outage on January 8, 2026.
IPv6 represents the most recent iteration of the Internet Protocol, designed to eventually replace the older IPv4 standard. Modern internet infrastructure increasingly relies on IPv6 for routing traffic, making this blackout particularly significant for Iranian internet users.
The failure affects multiple major internet service providers operating within Iran's borders. These providers form the backbone of the country's internet connectivity, meaning the blackout likely impacts millions of users across the nation.
Major Providers Affected
The routing blackout has impacted Iran's two primary telecommunications entities: Iran Telecommunication Company and MCI. These organizations represent critical infrastructure for the country's internet connectivity.
MCI, or Mobile Communications Company of Iran, stands as one of the largest mobile network operators in the country. As a major provider of internet services, any disruption to MCI's infrastructure affects a substantial portion of the Iranian population's connectivity.
Iran Telecommunication Company similarly operates as a cornerstone of the nation's telecommunications network. The simultaneous routing failures across these major providers suggest a systemic issue rather than isolated technical problems.
Geographic Impact
The blackout's effects are most visible in Iran's capital city of Tehran, which serves as both the political and economic center of the country. As a major metropolitan area with high internet usage, Tehran's connectivity issues represent a significant portion of the national disruption.
Routing blackouts of this nature typically create cascading effects throughout connected networks. Users attempting to access services via IPv6 may experience complete loss of connectivity, while those with IPv4 fallback capabilities might see degraded performance or partial connectivity.
The geographic concentration of the outage in major urban centers like Tehran amplifies the economic and social impact of the routing failure, potentially affecting business operations, communication services, and access to information.
Detection and Monitoring
The outage was identified through Cloudflare's internet routing monitoring infrastructure, which continuously tracks routing announcements and connectivity patterns globally. This system provides real-time visibility into internet infrastructure health across different countries and regions.
Routing monitoring systems like Cloudflare's radar work by observing Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) announcements and routing table changes. When Iranian networks stopped announcing IPv6 routes, the system registered this as a blackout event.
The detection of this outage demonstrates the value of independent internet monitoring infrastructure for identifying connectivity disruptions that might otherwise go unnoticed or unconfirmed by official sources.
