Tehran’s 1700-Kilometer Fiber Optic Network Sparks Interest for Collaboration.
Tehran Municipality Eyes Fiber Optic Project Participation
The Iranian Ministry of Communications has expressed the possibility of Tehran Municipality’s involvement in a fiber optic project, as the city possesses a 1700-kilometer fiber optic network. However, the specifics of this collaboration with the local authority remain unclear.
As reported by IDEA, Sadegh Abbasi Shahkooh, an advisor to the Minister and the executive of the Fiber Optic Development Project, revealed that Tehran Municipality aims to obtain an operating license from the Regulatory Authority to participate in the fiber optic project. The Ministry of Communications is interested in having Tehran Municipality significantly contribute to the project by selling services.
In the recent past, the Minister of Interior called on all governors and municipalities across the country to collaborate in the fiber optic project by issuing guidelines. Meanwhile, telecommunication operators have pointed out that municipalities in major cities sometimes fall short in their cooperation and that some smaller municipalities request fees exceeding the regulatory tariffs for the project.
On October 16, 2023, Amir Mohammadzadeh Lajevardi, the Head of the Regulatory Authority for Radio Communications and Telecommunications, stated on his social media that an agreement for the robust implementation of the project in Tehran would soon be reached, in response to a user’s complaint regarding the project’s delay in the city.
Tehran Municipality’s Role in Fiber Optic Project Still Unclear
The role of Tehran Municipality in the Fiber Optic Development Project remains uncertain, as the Regulatory Authority previously set tariffs for municipalities outside provincial capitals but didn’t specify them for provincial centers and major cities.
Sadegh Abbasi Shahkooh, the executive of the Fiber Optic Development Project, explained, “In major cities, discussions are ongoing as the tariff structure has not been announced yet. For example, in some major cities, the necessary fiber infrastructure already exists, and we only need to incorporate the relevant figures. In Tehran, there are approximately 1700 to 1800 kilometers of fiber infrastructure.”
He also emphasized that municipal fiber optic networks need assessment because, for technical reasons, they might not be usable in some areas.
Regarding the cooperation of Tehran Municipality, he added, “Tehran Municipality is pursuing the acquisition of an operating license, which is significant for us. However, we are working towards an agreement where they can make substantial sales to operators in this regard. This is a practice allowed by previous legislation.”
He also referred to a clause in the 1401 Budget Law, identical to the one in this year’s budget law and the Seventh Development Plan, which obliges all government bodies, including municipalities, to allocate their resources to operators at the tariffs specified by the Regulatory Authority.
After expressing optimism on the matter, Shahkooh acknowledged, “In some major cities like Tehran and Isfahan, which have their own networks, we can significantly advance the project. Furthermore, municipal cooperation and interaction with all operators occur on equal terms, providing a fair advantage for all operators. This serves as a positive incentive for us to collaborate with municipalities.
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