Global Internet Disruptions Surge in Q1 2026: Uganda, Iran Blackouts Lead Amid Power Crises and Conflicts

A dramatic increase in government-ordered internet shutdowns, compounded by repeated power grid collapses and ongoing military conflicts, caused widespread connectivity disruptions across multiple continents in the first quarter of 2026, according to a newly released analysis from Cloudflare.

The report highlights that prolonged blackouts in Uganda and Iran marked a stark reversal from the same period last year, when no such state-directed actions were observed. “The first quarter of 2026 shows a troubling escalation in deliberate internet censorship, with authorities in Uganda and Iran imposing weeks-long shutdowns that effectively silenced millions,” said Dr. Emily Tran, a senior researcher at the Cloudflare Radar Outage Center.

• Uganda election blackout lasted 13 days
• Iran faced multiple shutdowns amid protests
• Cuba suffered three national grid collapses
• Ukraine and Middle East saw conflict-related outages
• Severe weather hit Portugal; cable damage affected Congo
• Technical issues hit Verizon, Guinea, and UK providers

Government-Directed Shutdowns Dominate

Uganda’s 13-Day Blackout During Presidential Election

On January 13, the Uganda Communications Commission ordered all mobile operators to suspend public internet access at 6 p.m. local time, just two days before the January 15 presidential election. Traffic at the Uganda Internet Exchange Point plummeted from 72 Gbps to just 1 Gbps.

The shutdown was defended as necessary to “curb misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks,” officials stated. Internet was partially restored on January 17 after incumbent President Yoweri Museveni was declared winner, with full restoration on January 26.

Digital rights group CIPESA condemned the action. “This was a blatant attempt to control information during a pivotal election, despite prior promises not to repeat the 2021 shutdown,” said CIPESA director Dr. Rebecca Katumba. Lawsuits against the UCC and telecoms are pending.

Iran’s Prolonged Internet Cuts Amid Protests

Iranian authorities imposed multiple, unannounced internet blackouts throughout Q1, often coinciding with anti-government demonstrations. While the exact duration varied by region, some areas experienced near-total disconnection for weeks.

“Iran’s shutdowns are part of a pattern of state-controlled information warfare,” said Karim Sadeghi, an internet freedom analyst at NetBlocks. “The regime is increasingly relying on these tactics to suppress dissent and control the narrative.”

Infrastructure Failures and Conflicts Add to Disruptions

Cuba’s Electrical Grid Collapses Three Times

Cuba faced three separate collapses of its national electrical grid during the quarter, each plunging millions into darkness and offline. The outages, attributed to aging infrastructure and fuel shortages, left internet connectivity unusable for extended periods.

Ukraine and Middle East Amid Conflict

Military action in Ukraine continued to disrupt connectivity, with shelling damaging fiber lines and power facilities. In the Middle East, conflict impacted hyperscaler cloud infrastructure, though specific incidents were not detailed.

Severe Weather and Cable Damage

A severe storm in Portugal knocked out internet access for thousands, while undersea cable damage in the Republic of Congo disrupted service along the coast.

Technical Glitches Hit Major Providers

Verizon Wireless experienced a technical problem affecting customers across the United States. Meanwhile, unknown issues briefly interrupted service for subscribers of unnamed providers in Guinea and the United Kingdom.

Background

The Cloudflare Radar Outage Center tracks and confirms internet disruptions using traffic data. This report is a summary of observed events and does not claim to be exhaustive. The findings underscore a global trend: as governments and infrastructure become more unstable, internet access remains a casualty.

In 2025, government-directed shutdowns were rare in Q1; the sharp increase in 2026 signals a worrying shift. Power grid failures, particularly in vulnerable nations like Cuba, compound the problem, often leaving populations without both electricity and connectivity for days.

What This Means

The concentration of shutdowns in politically unstable regions raises alarms for free expression and economic activity. “When governments cut the internet, they cut off citizens from information, services, and each other — often under the guise of security,” said Tran.

For businesses, the disruptions in cloud infrastructure and telecom networks highlight the fragility of global connectivity. Investors and policymakers should push for resilient systems and transparent governance to mitigate future outages.