The Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Seyed Sattar Hashemi said the ministry is aiming at upgrading the country to the hub of digital economy of the region and announced an increase of 50 percent of the data traffic across Iran in the last four months.
Addressing
the ceremony to mark the World
Telecommunication and Information Society Day, he introduced the plans of the
ministry to develop communication infrastructure, attract investment,
strengthen technology diplomacy, develop the space industry, and support the
production of local content.
The World Telecommunication and
Information Society Day (WTISD) is celebrated annually on May 17 to mark
the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the signing
of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865. Iran also marks the
day by commemorating the public relations departments.
Referring
to Sustainable Communication, Smart Life as the motto of the ICT Ministry, the
minister said, "People who believe in the development of communications,
also believe in human development. Based on this view, we are pursuing the
development of communications as the main pillar of digital transformation with
the firm support of the honorable president."
“The
development of the fifth generation of mobile phones (5G) and the development
of fiber optic networks are seriously on the ministry's agenda. Fortunately, proper
international interactions have begun. I recently visited Beijing and the Chinese
side welcomed the expansion of bilateral cooperation and announced its readiness
to cooperate on development of technologies."
Hashemi
who was speaking at the Iranian
Space Research Center also wlecomed the continued
rapid development of the country's space industry and said, "This year, we
will witness important events such as the operation of the Chabahar launch base
and the Salmas and Chenaran ground stations."
Prior
to the ICT minister’s speech, President Masoud Pezeshkian officially opened the
ceremony as the keynote speaker and hailed the ministry’s staff and management
for their relentless efforts for the progress and development of the country.
In a
commentary to commemorate the WTISD published on Saturday in the Iran Newspaper,
Hashemi said, “Our promise to the people is to secure their satisfaction and
trust in the country's communication network.”
“The
ICT Ministry has a significant contribution to advancing major national
projects such as smart management of energy imbalance, strengthening the
digital economy and increasing its share in the country's economic portfolio,
providing faster and more accurate services to microeconomic actors and
family-oriented economies by utilizing the facilities of the comprehensive
postal network, using space-based capacities in developing businesses and
national surveys focused on combating corruption and land grabbing,
strengthening e-government infrastructure and transparency and satisfaction of
government projects, as well as dozens of other missions,” he wrote.