ICT Minister stresses quality Internet access for all people

He made the statement on Tuesday in an article published in the Etemad Daily on Tuesday, elaborating on the requirements of digital governance in the context of the Israeli-US aggression of Iran.

The full text of the ICT minister’s opinion piece is as follows:

Policy-making in ICT should be based on the complex realities of this field, not trapped in simplified and eroded dualities. In a careful and pathological analysis and examination of ICT policy-making, it is observed that sometimes this process is trapped in dualities such as "open or closed", "internal or external", "independence or interaction". Today, however, the incorrectness and inefficiency of these dualities have been proven by numerous evidence, and the country's lived experience has clearly shown that such formulations not only do not meet today's needs, but have themselves become part of the problem.

The strategy that has been the focus and emphasis of the ICT Ministry since the beginning of the President Masoud Pezeshkian’s government and pursued and implemented at various levels is based on a clear principle: “Neither digital isolation nor absolute dependence, but intelligent and balanced development.” This statement is not a slogan; rather, it is the product of a systematic review of past processes and the summation of a set of instructive experiences. In the past year, when our country faced unprecedented war and tensions, the inevitable restriction and disconnection of the Internet at three junctures was a serious test for all of us, both in government and society. These experiences showed that digital isolation does not simply mean reduced access; it directly affects the structure of the digital economy, the resilience of businesses, the flow of learning, and even public trust.

It is clear that the shrinking market, the reduction of investment incentives, and the distancing from the global chain of knowledge and technology are among the consequences that cannot be ignored.

At the same time, global experiences and domestic realities have shown us that absolute reliance on foreign infrastructure and platforms is not a sustainable solution. In a situation where cyberwars, technological sanctions, and geopolitical competition have become part of the world's everyday reality, the lack of local capacities and infrastructure can expose the country to serious harm that will not be easily compensated.

Accordingly, the right path and the path forward is not to choose one of these two ends of the spectrum, but to design a balanced model; a model in which the development of domestic infrastructure is pursued with seriousness while at the same time maintaining and strengthening active and purposeful interaction with the world. This is the point where "independence" and "interaction" are defined not in opposition, but in complementarity.

Within this framework, the ICT Ministry is committed to pursuing two goals simultaneously:

1- Strengthening national infrastructure and increasing network resilience, and

2- Improving the quality and sustainability of services for the people and providing equitable and non-discriminatory access to the Internet.

Accordingly, I have repeatedly emphasized that high-quality Internet is the right of the people and that any classification and segregation of access, including what is called class-based Internet or special lists, is irrelevant in this framework. Naturally, in cases where, for any reason, programs and measures that differ from this approach are implemented in practice, it is temporary and urgent in nature and should gradually return to its rightful course while social and security conditions stabilize. The formation of different types of access, from official to unofficial channels, indicates that any restriction can lead to the creation of new and unfair gaps.

Accordingly, the serious concern and priority of the proud ICT family whose efforts of each of its directors and experts created honor in the Ramadan War and whose worthy role in serving dear Iran became more apparent than ever to the science and technology specialists, is to reduce these gaps and move towards a unified and equitable experience for all users.

In this regard, of course, one important fact should not be overlooked. Governance in the field of communications is a multi-layered and cross-sectoral matter. Decision-making in many areas is carried out at a level beyond a single ministry and requires coordination and consensus at various levels of governance. However, the ICT Ministry deems itself obliged, as the custodian of infrastructure development and service provision, to clearly express expert views based on science and experience, and to utilize all its legal and executive capacities to achieve a balanced path. A look at global trends also confirms this approach.

Countries are investing heavily in indigenous infrastructure, developing domestic platforms, and actively participating in new areas such as satellite communications, but none have chosen the path of complete blockade or absolute surrender. These experiences show that success in the digital economy depends on striking a balance between “preserving strategic assets” and “taking advantage of global opportunities.” What we need now more than ever is to move beyond false and costly dualities and move toward decision-making based on data, experience, and a forward-looking perspective.

The digital economy is no longer a marginal sector; it has become one of the main drivers of economic growth, employment, and social welfare. Any policymaking in this area has direct and widespread effects on people's lives. The ICT Ministry will continue its march along this path not as a temporary choice, but as an absolute strategy. The path of balance may be more complex than simple and dual choices, but it is the only path that can simultaneously guarantee independence, sustainability, and benefit from global opportunities for the country.