Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi on Thursday launched more than 300 infrastructure projects in the northern province of Gilan, saying that completion of ICT projects in the province contributes to the development of the country’s digital economy.
He made the remarks at a meeting of
the Administration Council of the Caspian Sea province, during which he inaugurated
305 ICT projects worth $15.5 million.
Referring to recent national
achievements in the space and cyberspace, Hashemi emphasized the importance of
developing the digital economy, completing communication coverage of villages,
and accelerating the implementation of fiber optics in cities.
He described the simultaneous
launch of three satellites Paya, Kowsar, and Zafar into an orbit 500 km above
the Earth as an example of synergy between the government, the private sector,
and universities, and said that these satellites were upgraded versions of
previous models and the result of the activities of a coherent knowledge
network in the country.
“This achievement showed that teamwork,
overcoming individual perspectives, and reliance on collective capacity can
lead to national honors, which is a source of pride for the Iranian people
around the world,” he added.
Successful repelling of major
cyberattack
The ICT minister pointed out that
one of the most complex cyberattacks against the country’s communication
infrastructure occurred simultaneously with the launch of the satellites.
According to Hashemi, the attack,
which targeted one of the country’s operators, was repelled in two stages: The
first stage was carried out abroad, and the second stage was inside the
country, using local capacities and domestic production.
“This success is a sign of the
sustainability of the knowledge-based production cycle in the field of
information and communication technology,” he added, “Despite oppressive
sanctions, the development of the country’s ICT industry continues with
strength.”
Application of remote-sensing satellites
Hashemi also referred to applications
of remote-sensing satellites and said that land observation and protection of
natural resources are among the most important functions of space technology.
He said, “In the northern
provinces of the country including Gilan, there are challenges such as
encroachment on national lands and threats to natural resources. Satellite data
can be an effective tool to combat this trend.”
Gilan’s opportunity in digital
economy
Emphasizing the role of digital
economy in global developments while in many countries the share of the digital
economy in GDP has surpassed that of the traditional economy, the minister said
that Iran’s Seventh Economic Development Plan also aims to reach 10 percent of
GDP.
“Gilan Province has significant
capacities in this field. The existence of successful platforms in the fields
of tourism, payment, new technologies, and the Internet of Things indicates the
high potential of the province’s human resources.”
Rural coverage and fiber optic
development
Elaborating the tasks stipulated
in Article 65 of the Seventh Development Plan, the ICT minister stated that
communication coverage of villages with more than 20 households through mobile
communications and the development of fiber optics in cities are two separate
missions, each with its own logic and requirements.
“All eligible villages will be
covered by communication services by the end of the Seventh Plan, and 20
million households will be able to connect to the fiber optic network by the
end of the plan.”
Accelerating connection of villages
Hashemi also referred to the
requests of the provincial lawmakers and said, “A number of villages in the
counties of Amlash, Rudsar, Rasht, Khammam, Rudbar, Siahkal, and Lahijan have
been immediately placed on the agenda, and other villages will be gradually
covered through coherent planning and coordination among executive agencies.”
“The cooperation of agencies such
as electricity and road authorities can help accelerate this process,” he said
citing the topographic and environmental conditions of Gilan which have made implementation
of communication projects in the province complex and costly.
ICT a dynamic and permanent
mission
Hashemi reminded that the mission
of ICT Ministry is different from other fields such as water and electricity, and
added that due to the dynamism and changes in ICT, the development and
maintenance of communication networks is a permanent mission which requires constant
planning.
At the conclusion of his speech,
the minister inaugurated 305 ICT infrastructure projects in a ceremony
participated by Governor General of Gilan Hadi Haghshenas and a number of provincial
officials.
These projects were implemented
within the framework of the development programs of the government and with the
objective of improving communication infrastructure and the quality of access
of the people of Gilan Province to communication and information technology
services.
The projects were in the following
fields:
- Rural communication development
and mobile coverage
- Mobile network upgrade and
fifth generation development
- Development of fiber optics and landline
infrastructure
- Development of postal and digital
banking services