ICT Minister: Private sector indispensable to achieve national goals

Speaking at the National Conference on Investment Opportunities in the ICT Sector, he said the government has launched a series of key projects with the participation of the private sector to accelerate the development of the digital economy.

First Vice-President Mohammad-Reza Aref was the keynote speaker who officially opened the conference in which government directors, digital economy ecosystem activists, domestic and foreign investors, and representatives of private sector companies took part.

ICT minister elaborated on the government’s macro strategies in developing digital infrastructure and the country’s data-driven governance model, adding that the conference is the starting point of a new stage of attracting capital in the field of communications infrastructure, data-driven governance, and digital services.

“Digital economy is no longer an option. Digital economy and digital transformation are strategic imperatives for economic growth and a leap in the country’s productivity,” he said.

Digital economy has distinctive efficiency

Hashemi cited global analyses and the experience of leading countries and said, “Investing in digital economy infrastructure has much higher returns and a more significant multiplier effect compared to many economic sectors.”

“Legislation has outlined a clear path for the development of communication infrastructure and the digital economy in the Seventh Development Plan by including numerous provisions in Chapter 13 and other parts of the plan.”

According to the ICT minister, the volume of investment required for this field is such that the government alone cannot cover it, and relying on the capacity of the private sector is a necessary condition for achieving national goals.

“On this basis, the ICT Ministry is providing attractive and transparent platforms for the presence of domestic and foreign investors.”

First priority: ICT infrastructure

Hashemi introduced “sustainable and high-quality communication infrastructure” as one of the main axes of digital economy development and said, “ICT Ministry is pursuing three major projects with the participation of the private sector, including the development of the fiber optic network for homes and businesses (FTTx).”

“This project is progressing with the focus of operators and is considered one of the most radical infrastructure projects in the history of communications in the country.”

Describing the second major project of the ICT Ministry as the transition from copper wire to fiber optic, he said, “This plan, which is being implemented with the leadership of the Iranian Telecom Company and the participation of other operators, is the first fundamental transformation in the fixed access layer after a century of the country’s dependence on the copper network.”

This project, he added, “will be registered as a lasting technical legacy by the government of President Masoud Pezeshkian”.

Hashemi described the development of the fifth generation and preparation for the sixth generation of mobile phones as the third major project of the Ministry of Communications, and referred to the holding of the 5G frequency auction after years of waiting.

“Operators are providing equipment and preparing the network, and this path is being pursued with seriousness.”

Data-driven governance

The ICT minister termed “data-driven governance” as the second axis of the digital economy and said, “The development of storage infrastructure, data centers, and processing capacities must proceed by relying on private sector investment.”

Pointing out that the main stream of value in the digital economy is formed based on data, he also said, “The lack of robust data over the past years in areas ranging from energy and environment to social management has hindered efficient decision-making and made the necessity of establishing data-driven governance more evident than ever.”

He introduced the ICT Ministry’s plans in this field and said, “The development of a government with a joint investment model between the government and the private sector is on the agenda. The ICT Regulatory Authority will soon issue a license to establish an artificial intelligence operator for private sector participation."

"Strengthening data infrastructure and creating new processing capacities is an essential foundation for realizing smart services and advancing digital transformation in the country,” he added.

Digital services: Outsourcing

Hashemi termed the third layer "digital services" and said, "Experience has shown that providing services through the private sector is of much higher quality than government involvement."

Pointing out that whenever a disruption occurs in the services of government agencies, the communication infrastructure is immediately blamed, he added, "The stability of the services of large private companies such as Snapp, Digikala, and Alibaba shows that the network platform is stable in most cases and the source of disruptions lies in the government service layer."

“The strategy of the government is to outsource smart government services to the private sector led by the Information Technology Organization.”

The ICT minister considered infrastructure development conditional on simultaneously strengthening cybersecurity and said, “Creating a security operator in the private sector is one of the ministry’s serious programs to protect the country’s data and digital services.”

Technology diplomacy

Hashemi appreciated the presence of foreign guests, introduced technology diplomacy one of the ICT Ministry’s priorities and elaborated on the plans of the Deputy for International Affairs to expand cooperation with technology-rich countries.

“The technology transfer requires courageous decisions, bold actions, and accurate foresight, and all national capacities must be mobilized in this direction,” he stressed.

Expressing his gratitude to those involved in organizing the conference, he said, "The ICT Ministry, relying on the capacity of the private sector, well-documented planning, and a forward-looking approach, will continue the path of digital economy transformation with strength and will strive to bring about lasting changes for the people within the existing limited window of opportunity.”

The ICT minister also inaugurated the exhibition of investment opportunities on the sidelines of the conference together with Seyed Mehdi Khamoshi, Head of the National Endowments and Charity Affairs Organization.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, the companies and organizations present, while introducing their achievements and projects, examined the areas of cooperation and investment attraction with investors, and an opportunity was provided for the exchange of experiences and networking among activists in the field of ICT.