$15.6 Million ICT Projects Come on Stream in Yazd

During a visit to the province, Information and Communications Technologies Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi inaugurated 432 projects on streamlining communication infrastructures across Yazd Province, including urban and rural areas, the ministry's website reported.

Expanding fiber-optic networks, improving the capacity of data transfer over copper and wireless broadband, installing routers, boosting broadband internet speed in home connections, launching a solar power plant with a generating capacity of 20 kilowatts, and reinforcing flood barriers to protect the installed fiber optic networks were among projects launched in the province.

Provincial projects included the establishment of communication towers and expansion of 4G internet coverage to 75 new areas, including 51 villages, as well as extension of mobile coverage to 71 villages were among the recent achievements, according to Financial Tribune.

According to Jahromi, following the launch of these projects in Yazd, all its rural areas with more than 20 households have been connected to the National Information Network.

NIN is an independent network whose content is compatible with Islamic values, one of the most important components of which is the availability of localized services.

"This is in line with the government policies to connect 90% of villages with over 80 residents to NIN by 2021," he added.

Jahromi said the new projects will boost ICT services in the province, emphasizing that enhancing communications should be among the top priorities of authorities.

In late August, President Hassan Rouhani announced that over 1,000 undeveloped villages in Sistan-Baluchestan, Kerman, Fars and West Azarbaijan provinces now have access to mobile communications and are also linked to the network.

He said at the time that in terms of convenience of living, all the efforts are being made to fill the gap between urban and rural life. 

Villages and metropolises should be developed in tandem, so extensive work has been done and will be on track to provide villagers with clean potable water, energy, health and communication services.

Experts in the field say that filling the communication gap between cities and villages will help curb migration to cities.

Support for Startups

Pointing to the untapped potentials of 284 tech firms active in the province, Jahromi said knowledge-based companies and startups require the support of a developed technology ecosystem to flourish. 

“They can also help the ICT sector develop communication infrastructures,” he said.

The ICT minister encouraged directors of tech firms and startups to stand firm in their pursuit of goals and not give up working on their ideas.

Jahromi announced the launch of two fledgling private companies at the event to give emerging tech teams the incentive to continue their efforts.

One of the companies comprised a team of distributors of agricultural products, directly from farmlands to consumers. Titled Bazargam, the company delivers fresh fruits to consumers in Tehran, Yazd and Isfahan provinces. 

Omitting the role of middlemen, the team delivers products at a price 25% lower than the regular prices in conventional markets, while increasing the income of farmers. 

"With a strong background in manipulating the domestic market, dealers will naturally oppose such companies, but good results will come for the team with consistent effort and optimism," Jahromi said.

The other company, which was officially inaugurated by the minister, was the country's second private post company, which is currently extending postal services in Yazd. 

Details of the company’s structure and working policies were not furnished.

The first private post company was introduced at Iran's Chamber of Commerce in Tehran in mid-October.