In a ceremony on Monday telecoms minister Issa Zarepour ordered the launch of 500,000 new fixed broadband connections in two major cities: Mashhad in the east and Qom in central Iran.
According to local press reports, Zarepour, who took over as minister in August, had earlier said that the current Iranian administrative government is determined to finish a massive project that normally takes 10 years by the time its term ends in August 2025.
Reports and studies carried out in recent years suggest that Iran has been slow in developing its fixed internet infrastructure despite progress in mobile data provision. Telecoms ministry figures show there were only 540,000 premises with access to fixed fibre in Iran in March 2021.
By contrast Iran’s near neighbour across the Gulf of Oman already has a competitive fibre business between service providers Awasr, Ooredoo and Omantel, albeit serving a much smaller population and area. In fact Ooredoo Oman this week announced the arrival of its Fibre Home Internet service in Lizeg in the province of Samail as well as parts of the city of al Amerat. The coastal town of Saham in the northeast is expected to join them at the end of the month.
Residents in those areas can, according to the operator, now enjoy an ‘amazing value’ high-speed service from OMR 29.4 ($76.5) per month.
Speeds of up to 1GB are advertised, plus a whole range of benefits that include unlimited data, 10% discount on international calling, unlimited national minutes, and free modem and installation.
