Mobile Technology in Iran Turns 30

Mobile Technology in Iran Turns 30 Today, Friday, August 9, 2024

Today marks the 30th anniversary of mobile technology in Iran. According to the General Communications Department of Iran Mobile Communications Company (Hamrah-e Aval), mobile technology in Iran has entered a new phase of its life cycle, fueled by next-generation communication standards and innovative applications of 5G.

The country’s first mobile operator began its journey on August 10, 1994, during the early days of 2G digital signals, with the establishment of 24 radio stations and the issuance of four SIM cards to the Presidential Office. Now, with more than 1,000 5G sites, Hamrah-e Aval enters its fourth decade as the largest mobile operator in Iran and the Middle East.

Iran was among the leading countries in mobile technology development, despite a roughly ten-year gap between the global introduction of the technology and its emergence in the country. Iran has remained on the cutting edge of technology, aligning with the global trend of launching a new generation of communication technology every decade, driven by behavioral analysis.

In the early days of SIM card distribution in Iran, the focus was on creating the capacity to allocate 9,200 numbers exclusively in Tehran. About a decade later, by the end of 2003, the company reached a milestone of 3.45 million SIM cards issued. Today, the number of SIM cards issued by Hamrah-e Aval has surpassed 100 million.

Currently, Hamrah-e Aval’s network coverage includes approximately 45,000 villages, 83,000 kilometers of roads, and 97% of the country’s population. This infrastructure has enabled record-breaking achievements, including 80 billion minutes of total network calls and 118 billion SMS messages.

The growing demand for mobile communication technology in Iran paved the way for other players in the market, enhancing competition. Following the success of over a decade of operations by the Iran Mobile Communications Company, licenses for second and third mobile operators were gradually issued.

In line with societal and economic analyst expectations, the issuance of these licenses, alongside the privatization of the country’s largest telecommunications company, solidified Hamrah-e Aval’s position as a national asset in the telecommunications sector.

Hamrah-e Aval now holds a 67% market share in voice calls, 84% in SMS, and 53% in mobile broadband subscribers. As the first and largest mobile operator in the country, Hamrah-e Aval has achieved an operational revenue of 857 Million dollar in its primary company by the end of 2023, with a 31% growth in the final year of its second strategic program.

Moreover, on the 30th anniversary of the first SIM card distribution in the country, the revenue from data and SMS services saw a 37% increase, reaching 495 million dollar in 2023.

In the past year (2023), Hamrah-e Aval contributed 395 million dollar to the government in various forms. This significant figure was once unimaginable during the early days of mobile technology, which was initially driven by government investment.

The impressive development of mobile technology in Iran over the past three decades has sparked a communication revolution, leading to structural changes across all sectors, including commerce and social interactions.

Having transitioned from analog and digital cellular networks to the era of mobile internet and broadband communications, we now stand in the “Beyond High-Speed Internet” stage, promising higher speeds, lower latency, and transformative applications.

It is worth noting that since 2016, Hamrah-e Aval, as the leading operator, has been at the forefront of 5G technology in Iran, driving the localization of this technology through internal capabilities, including technical teams from the operator and Iranian companies.

As the leading mobile operator in the country continues its development journey, it is focusing on extensive connectivity in 5G technology and moving towards implementing technological applications in the Internet of Things (IoT) and integrating artificial intelligence. This approach promises an exciting future with more advanced, integrated, efficient, and interconnected communications.