Can the Iranian government shut down internet access and other forms of communication?

[armyowalgreens]

I know it would be challenging to shut down all outlets, but can a country actually lock down all outward communication?

[SmileyRose]

1. I would assume the government either owns or can twist the arms of

the major internet service providers. We've already learned the US government can and has done so with ours, so I have no doubt any government could if motivated to do so.

[lapfog_1]

2. It wouldn't be all that difficult...

The hardest "path" to control would be IP over shortwave radio.

Satellite, which at first would seem to be difficult, is actually not all that hard. There are a limited number of global communication satellites over any given area of the earth, and most operators of such honor the local governments condition for ground stations. Meaning that even if you own your own dish, the government would contact your satellite provider and ask that they not honor any transmitter from within their borders.

The rest is "phone lines" (fiber optic or copper) and almost all of those are operated by a limited number of phone companies or backbone carriers. All of which can be controlled by the government.

Short wave IP can travel a great distance, and the major issue is one of discovery by triangulation. Bandwidth can be limited as well (at least when compared to other options).

[eShirl]

3. not all, apparently

http://twitter.com/Change_for_Iran

[madrchsod]

4. not everything and what they can`t makes it worse for them

[lazer47]

5. It's not Irans internet you should be worried about being shut down

[old mark]

6. China does it all the time, depending on where you live and who you are...

[EFerrari]

7. Maybe I'm just sleep deprived but I keep hearing about this terrible repression

and yet we've had news all weekend and a big press conference yesterday.

Were BBC et all kicked out as we heard yesterday? It doesn't look like it. I just saw a live report on al jazeera.

What is the deal, exactly? Mostly, it looks like hype off of twitter.