The Minister of Information and Communications Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi has said that the ICT Ministry requires new mechanisms for financing development of infrastructure projects.
Speaking at a meeting with member of the parliamentary Economic
Committee on Monday, he also announced a fourfold increase in subscribers
connections to the fiber optic network.
The minister reiterated expansion of cooperation between the Government
and Parliament for the development of ICT infrastructure, strengthening the
digital economy, increasing investment in this field, and utilizing the
capacities of the private sector and international partners.
“The ICT sector is one of the main drivers of the country's
economy,” Hashemi added, “There is a need to strengthen interaction between the
ICT Ministry and Parliament to advance the country's development programs.”
Stressing the role of financial resources for the development
of ICT infrastructure, he stated, “In recent years, the level of investment in
this sector has not been in line with global trends. To bridge this gap, new
financing mechanisms must be designed and implemented.”
“The Government emphasizes making maximum use of the private
sector's capacity. This approach can play an effective role in developing
communications infrastructure and achieving the major objectives of the ICT
sector.”
Space Economy, Space Governance
Referring to the plans in the space sector, Hashemi termed space
economy and space governance among the priorities of the Government, saying “Cooperation
with like-minded countries to utilize satellite capabilities is on the agenda.
The groundwork for achieving this cooperation has been prepared.”
He reiterated the role of communications infrastructure in
providing public services and described the stability of the communications
network during the Israel-US military aggression on Iran as a result of the
development and robustness of this infrastructure.
“A significant portion of the government's and businesses'
direct and indirect services are delivered through the country's communications
network. The continuity of these services under special conditions further
highlighted the importance of investment in this sector.”
Wartime Communications, Postal Services
The ICT Minster further referred to measures adopted by the
country's communications sector during the imposed war, saying that vital
services in the areas of electronic payments, communications, and postal
services continued despite the attacks.
“During this period, the country's payment systems supported
a large volume of transactions. The postal network, through the distribution of
13 million parcels, sought to ensure that the services needed by the public
continued without interruption.”
Hashemi added that the ICT Ministry supported domestic
messaging platforms including and the Shaad educational network.
“Support for domestic platforms should continue in accordance
with their developmental needs and requirements, but compliance with standards
and improvement in service quality are also fundamental requirements of this
support.”
Fourfold Growth in Fiber Optic Connections
The ICT Minister continued his remarks discussing the
progress in fiber optic network development and stated, “With the participation
of various operators, especially the Telecommunication Company of Iran, the
number of active fiber optic connections under the Government of President
Masoud Pezeshkian has increased fourfold.”
“More than 1.6 million subscribers are now connected to this
network through residential and business connections, and access to this
service has been made available to more than 11 million households and business
units across the country.”
Parliament's Support for Digital Economy
Shamseddin Hosseini, Chairman of the Economic Committee of Parliament,
praised the ICT Ministry’s performance during the Israel-US war with Iran.
He said that digital economy is main area of cooperation
between Parliament and the ICT Ministry, calling for further investment in this
sector.