Global Internet Disruptions Q1 2026: From Government Blackouts to Infrastructure Failures

Introduction

The first quarter of 2026 witnessed a wide array of internet disruptions around the world, ranging from state-imposed shutdowns to natural disasters and technical glitches. Government-directed blackouts were notably more frequent compared to the same period in 2025, with prolonged outages in Uganda and Iran. Simultaneously, power grid collapses in Cuba, military actions in Ukraine and the Middle East, severe weather in Portugal, cable damage in the Republic of Congo, and unexpected technical issues in the United States, Guinea, and the United Kingdom all contributed to significant connectivity losses. This overview highlights the key events observed, though it is not exhaustive; a more comprehensive list of anomalies is available via the Cloudflare Radar Outage Center.

Government-Ordered Shutdowns

Uganda

In anticipation of the January 15 presidential election, Ugandan authorities directed a nationwide internet blackout starting at 18:00 local time (15:00 UTC) on January 13. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) instructed all mobile network operators to suspend public internet access, citing the need to prevent misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud, and related risks as justification. Domestic traffic at the Uganda Internet Exchange Point (UIXP) plummeted from approximately 72 Gbps to just 1 Gbps. Cloudflare data corroborates this near-total traffic loss, with connectivity remaining effectively at zero until 23:00 local time on January 17, when partial restoration occurred after incumbent President Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of his seventh term. Full reinstatement of internet services was announced by the UCC on January 26, with MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda confirming the lifting of restrictions on social media. The shutdown faced legal challenges from civil society groups and attracted criticism from digital rights organizations such as CIPESA. Notably, this followed a similar blocking of internet during Uganda’s 2021 election, despite repeated government assurances—most recently on January 5, 2026—that such measures would not be repeated.

Iran

Iran also experienced a prolonged government-directed internet blackout during the first quarter of 2026, marking a stark contrast to the absence of observed state-ordered shutdowns in the same quarter a year earlier. While specific details of the Iranian outage are limited, the disruption was widespread and affected citizens for an extended period, adding to the region’s history of internet censorship and control during times of political unrest.

Infrastructure and Power Outages

Cuba

Cuba’s national electrical grid suffered three separate collapses during Q1 2026, each triggering widespread internet outages. The island’s aging power infrastructure, already strained by fuel shortages and maintenance issues, caused repeated blackouts that left millions without connectivity for hours or days at a time. These events highlight the fragility of critical infrastructure in the region and its direct impact on digital access.

Military Conflicts and Technical Failures

Ukraine

Ongoing military action in Ukraine continued to disrupt internet connectivity throughout the quarter. Armed conflict damaged telecommunications infrastructure, leading to intermittent service in affected areas. Additionally, the war’s ripple effects extended to hyperscaler cloud infrastructure in the Middle East, where regional instability impacted data center operations and caused temporary connectivity losses for some services.

Verizon Wireless (United States)

A technical problem struck Verizon Wireless in the United States, causing a brief but notable disruption for customers. The exact cause remains undisclosed, but the incident underscores how even major carriers can experience unexpected outages that affect millions of users.

Guinea and the United Kingdom

Mysterious connectivity issues also surfaced in Guinea and the United Kingdom. In both cases, customers of various internet service providers faced short-lived interruptions due to unknown problems. While these outages were not as extensive as others during the quarter, they added to the overall pattern of instability observed globally.

Weather and Cable Damage

Portugal

Severe weather conditions in Portugal knocked out internet connectivity for many users. Storm-related damage to overhead lines and equipment caused service disruptions, demonstrating how natural events can rapidly degrade digital infrastructure.

Republic of Congo

Cable damage in the Republic of Congo led to connectivity losses for a portion of the population. The exact cause of the damage—whether from construction work, environmental factors, or accident—has not been specified, but the event highlights the vulnerability of undersea and terrestrial cables that form the backbone of global internet.

Conclusion

Q1 2026 illustrated the variety of threats to internet stability, from deliberate government actions to accidental infrastructure failures and natural disasters. While some disruptions were brief, others—like those in Uganda and Iran—lasted days or weeks, impacting millions. As digital reliance grows, understanding these patterns helps stakeholders prepare for and mitigate future outages. The Cloudflare Radar Outage Center continues to track such events worldwide.