ICT Minister: Stable communication access to secure 7th Dev. Plan goals

Speaking at a press conference, Hashemi thanked the media for supporting the ICT Ministry during the Israel-US war of aggression against Iran and presented a report on the ministry’s activities during the imposed war.

 Maintaining Communications under Harshest Wartime Conditions

He stated that maintaining the stability of communications was among the ministry’s first priorities after the outbreak of war.

“The large-scale movement of people from major cities to smaller towns and villages placed additional pressure on communication infrastructure, but thanks to the around-the-clock efforts of communications specialists, public access to communication services remained as stable as possible.”

Referring to war damages inflicted on national infrastructure, he added that more than 500 communications sites and over 100 telecommunications and communications centers were damaged during enemy attacks.

“Despite these losses, however, no widespread disruption of public communications was reported,” he added.

The minister cited cooperation between telecom operators and the private sector as one of the key factors behind successful crisis management.

“When the equipment of one operator was damaged, the capacities of other operators were used to maintain services. Many private companies also provided services free of charge to the public despite declines in their revenues.”

Continuity of Essential Services and E-Government

Hashemi added that three communications outages affecting the country’s southern islands during the war were resolved and said that technical measures restored connectivity to these regions in the shortest possible time.

Referring to the performance of the National Post Company during the crisis, he said that more than 15 million postal items were transported and delivered during the period, despite the company’s employees operating under severe attack conditions and despite declining revenues caused by wartime restrictions.

“The space services continued despite damage to some ground and research centers, and service provision in this sector was not interrupted,” he added, “More than one billion transactions had been recorded on Iran’s e-government platform over approximately 40 days.”

He reiterated that continuity of these services prevented disruptions in the delivery of public services.

Digital Governance Requires a Problem-Oriented Approach

Addressing governance challenges in cyberspace and the internet, the ICT Minister said that the communications sector is the intersection of numerous and sometimes conflicting demands, and the Ministry is usually the institution expected to provide answers.

“The existing cultural, economic, and social challenges should not be reduced to communications infrastructure issues, nor should access restrictions be used to erase the underlying problems. Such issues inevitably return later with greater intensity.”

Hashemi added that in previous years the use of VPNs and blocking circumvention tools was considered socially undesirable in the country, but today some people openly and proudly discuss using them.

This experience, he said, “demonstrates that policymakers should not allow an undesirable behavior to become normalized and eventually transformed into a social value through governance processes”.

“Governance in cyberspace is not merely a technical issue and that lessons from past experiences must be used to correct the current course.”

Digital Economy cannot be Built without Trust

The ICT minister termed stable internet access as one of the most important concerns of stakeholders in the information and communications technology sector.

He noted that repeated questions from business operators about how long the internet would remain available reflect deep concerns regarding the future of investment in the digital economy.

“Achieving the goals of the Seventh Development Plan, increasing the share of the digital economy, and attaining a leading regional position are impossible without trust, stability, and reliable access to communications,” he stressed.

Referring to global developments driven by artificial intelligence, Hashemi noted that while many countries are focusing on using AI to drive economic and social transformation, Iran remains preoccupied with basic issues related to communications stability.

“This is a matter requiring strategic decision-making at the national level,” he noted.

Need for Participation by All Stakeholders in Decision-Making

Hashemi emphasized the role of the public during the Israel-US imposed war, saying that the people were the true winners in the aggression and that their capacity and cooperation in cyberspace should also be trusted.

He also stated that the country should move toward a national and sustainable decision-making process involving all stakeholders, including media organizations, members of parliament, digital economy actors, academics, experts, and the private sector.

The minister warned that decision-making behind closed doors and without participation from experts and the private sector not only fails to solve problems and may also contribute to brain drain and damage national security and the future of the country’s digital economy.

At the conclusion of his report, Hashemi thanked President Masoud Pezeshkian and First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref for their support of the ICT sector and stressed the importance of continued dialogue with the media and the use of expert opinions.

Internet Restrictions should be Time-Limited

Responding to reporters’ questions, the minister said that President Pezeshkian government’s approach is to redefine the space industry through a space economy perspective and provide practical services to the public so that the sector can address society’s needs and contribute to national economic development.

Referring to damage sustained by parts of the country’s space infrastructure in recent months, Hashemi said that although equipment and infrastructure suffered losses, the nation’s knowledge, experience, and human capital remain intact and cannot be destroyed.

“Fortunately none of the specialists and experts working in Iran’s space industry suffered loss of life in these incidents, which provides hope for the continued development of the sector.”

Expressing optimism about the future of Iran’s space industry, he said that planning has already been undertaken to return the sector to a path of growth and development as quickly as possible.

“Universities, research institutes, and knowledge-based companies provide a strong foundation for achieving this goal,” said Hashemi.

Internet Restrictions must be Transparent and Time-Bound

In response to a question about establishing a clear framework for any future internet restrictions, the ICT Minister said that one of the issues being seriously pursued by the ministry is the design of a transparent process for circumstances in which restrictions may become necessary.

“The first principle of such a framework is that restrictions should be minimized as much as possible because the government is aware of the negative consequences and damages associated with such measures.”

Hashemi added that it should also be clearly defined which institution determines the necessity of restrictions, under what mechanism they are imposed, and for how long they remain in effect.

He said: Multiple meetings have been held on the matter, and proposals have been received from various organizations.

“Transparency in this area helps increase public trust,” Hashemi added, “The Iranian people are aware and cooperative when circumstances and necessities are explained clearly. Decision-making in an ambiguous environment without transparent communication, however, is undesirable.”

The minister stressed that any potential restrictions should have a clearly defined duration and that the public should be informed both about the decision-making process and the timeline for lifting the restrictions.

Government Remains Committed to High-Quality and Secure Internet

In another part of his remarks, Hashemi said that the Government’s policy from the outset has been to provide high-quality, stable, and secure internet access for all citizens, and that this approach continues to be pursued vigorously.

“The ICT Ministry staff work around the clock to improve network quality and enhance user access. This is not a slogan but a fundamental principle guiding government action in the communications sector.”

Referring to global developments in the digital economy and artificial intelligence, the minister said that the digital economy has become one of the primary drivers of national development worldwide.

“Countries cannot isolate themselves from global technological and innovation trends through self-imposed restrictions or unnecessary limitations,” he added.

According to the ICT Minister, experience has proved that broad restrictions have failed to achieve their intended goals and that decisions in this area should be made on the basis of expertise, reality, and the interests of the public and the country.

Fiber Optics and 5G Development are Priorities

Responding to a query about the development of fiber-optic infrastructure and fifth-generation mobile communications (5G), Hashemi stated that there is no sustainable path for developing the country’s communications sector unless two key projects — landline communications development and mobile communications development — are completed.

“Alongside the expansion of fiber infrastructure, a program to migrate users from older platforms to fiber networks has begun and is being pursued in cooperation with the Telecommunication Company of Iran.”

5G Expansion through Frequency Allocation

Hashemi said that mobile communications development is also being pursued seriously.

He noted that frequency is the most important resource for mobile communications development and that next-generation networks cannot be expanded without the allocation of frequency bands.

“One of the first measures undertaken by the ICT Ministry under the present Government was the allocation of the necessary frequencies for 5G services to operators, after which the procurement of equipment and network expansion began.”

Referring to challenges in acquiring required equipment, he said that despite difficulties in procurement, the issue is being pursued seriously.

“According to obligations, a significant portion of the country’s network should be equipped with 5G technology by the end of the year.”

Hashemi also announced the activation of 5G capabilities on newer mobile phones.

“Negotiations have been conducted with manufacturers and their representatives, making 5G functions available on many phones currently sold in the market.”

Support for Domestic Messaging Platforms while Preserving Competition

Responding to a question about the performance of domestic messaging platforms during recent communications restrictions, the minister noted that usage on these platforms increased by several hundred percent.

“When demand rises suddenly, some disruptions are not unexpected, but domestic messaging services nevertheless worked to maintain stable operations,” the ICT Minister added.

Hashemi also said that the ICT Ministry supports domestic platforms and messaging applications, but it does not mean creating monopolies.

According to the minister, access to international services and platforms should also be maintained because monopolies ultimately harm users and the country’s technology ecosystem.

Hashemi stressed that any documented reports regarding the quality of messaging services or potential underperformance by telecom operators would be investigated and followed up by the ministry.

Ministry Opposes Whitelist Internet

In another part of his remarks, the minister addressed proposals for a “whitelist internet” and said that the ICT Ministry opposes this approach.

“Such a model involves significant technical complexity and could hinder innovation,” he warned.

“Experience in access-management policies has shown that implementing such schemes on a national scale presents serious challenges and cannot adequately meet the diverse needs of users and businesses.”

Role of Technology Diplomacy in Countering International Allegations

Hashemi also introduced Iran’s efforts in international telecommunications forums.

“Following certain allegations raised against the Islamic Republic of Iran within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the ICT Ministry together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), engaged in extensive consultations with various countries.”

These diplomatic initiatives resulted in substantial modifications to an initial proposal directed against Iran, and a number of countries expressed support for the positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“Active participation in international bodies and the effective use of technology diplomacy have become national necessities which will continue with determination,” Hashemi concluded.