CRA Releases Telecoms Market Data for Fiscal Q4

EghtesadOnline: The latest data released by Iran's Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) show that the number of subscribers of RighTel, a local mobile phone network operator, shows an upward trajectory.

News ID: ۷۴۷۲۹۰

11 May 2019

On Tuesday, CRA updated its telecommunications statistical charts on its website Cra.ir, which show that in the last quarter of the previous Iranian year (Dec. 22, 2018-March 20), the number of RighTel subscribers registered a 2.5-fold jump from 1.6 million to 3.9 million.

The authority also reported that the hike in RighTel subscribers increased the company's market share from 1.82% to 4.24%.

However, the other two major mobile phone network operators in the country, namely Mobile Telecommunications Company of Iran (also known as Hamrah-e-Aval or MCI) and MTN-Irancell, still rule the market with 55.1 million and 33.9 million subscribers respectively, Financial Tribune reported.

Of the total 93 million active SIM cards registered in the country, 59% are MCI SIMs and 36% Irancell.

Ali Mohammad Montazeri, the head of technical inspection office at CRA, told a national radio channel, "The three local mobile phone network operators are racing for a bigger share of the communication services market."

He noted that finding innovative solutions for attracting clients, along with improving the quality of services, is a key factor of success.

Montazeri hoped that competition will help improve the country's ICT infrastructures and services.

RighTel was the first mobile phone network operator to offer 3G Internet services in Iran (in October 2011) and enjoyed a short-lived boom. However, after Irancell and MCI started offering similar services (in Aug. 2014), RighTel subscribers trickled away.

All three operators offer roaming services in more than 100 countries. A comparison of the services offered by the three in some of the countries frequented by Iranians indicates that in many cases, RighTel charges less.