Jahromi Discusses Opportunities, Challenges With ITU Chief

EghtesadOnline: ITU Telecom World 2017 kicked off on Monday in Busan, South Korea, where global ICT leaders meet. Like the previous rounds, telecom companies and senior officials are attending the event during which Iran’s minister met with the ITU chief and urged him to assist Tehran in modernizing the crucial sector.

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27 September 2017

It is a four-day event organized by the International Telecommunication Union,  the UN agency responsible for ICT-related issues, local technology website CITNA reported.

More than 320 firms active in ICT, mobile operators, startups and ICT media outlets from China, India, France Belarus, South Africa, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Rwanda, and several other countries are participating.

Groups, companies and their representatives display their latest products and  services in the search for new clients and also have the opportunity to witness the progress of competitors and compare it with their own, according to Financial Tribune.

Iran’s Telecommunication Infrastructure Company, Telecommunication Company of Iran, Faculty of Applied Science of Post and Telecommunication and Ava Communication Industries Company are representing Iran at the Koran event.

After the Monday inauguration, ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao, South Korea’s minister of science, ICT and future planning, Choi Yang-hee with a delegation of ITU officials visited Iran’s pavilion.

An Appeal for Help

Iran’s Telecoms Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi attended the event on Tuesday and held talks with Zhao on strengthening bilateral ties in the key  telecom sector. Jahromi requested the Geneva-based ITU to help Iran in overcoming the recently-imposed hurdles in the field of telecom technology.

Jahromi submitted an application for admission to the ITU on behalf of five Iranian universities, saying “The five are prepared to play a role in international telecommunication arena.” The request was welcomed by Zhao.

Currently, some 143 international academic bodies are permanent members of ITU including two Iranian universities, namely Faculty of Applied Science of Post and Telecommunication affiliated with the telecoms ministry and Iran University of Science and Technology.

He said his ministry is in the process of overhauling — including the introduction of a national scheme for revising Internet tariffs.

Jahromi called on the UN agency to send a delegation of experts to Iran to evaluate the telecom industry’s performance and share expertise with the relevant Iranian organizations to help propel the sector.

Referring to the recent unprofessional move by Apple Inc, which has removed applications of some two dozen Iranian businesses from its App Store Service, the official urged the ITU to intervene in the framework of its treaties and conventions. Zhao promised to look into the matter.

Jahromi also informed the senior UN official about the commitment of the Telecoms Ministry to turn things around in contributing to “the most important need of the Iranian economy: high-speed Internet and startups.”

General View

ITU Telecom World is a global platform for accelerating ICT innovations. It aims to deliver economic development and social goods faster through its exhibition for digital solutions, forums for sharing knowledge and networking hubs connecting nations, organizations, and individuals.

Policy and decision makers and government officials in the ICT sector along with state and private firms attend the event for talks on boosting working relations.

Like the previous rounds, this year’s event includes several workshops, forums, and conferences during which high-ranking ICT officials speak.

The event serves as a venue where participants can share information on current trends in the sector and discuss what needs to be done to accelerate innovation and overcome hurdles.

For startups and small and medium-sized firms, the event offers the opportunity to find future partners and introduce their technology, products, and solutions.

Big companies in the telecom sector, including mobile carrier KT, a main sponsor for the ITU event, and Chinese tech firm Huawei are showing their latest products and solutions at the event.

During the Telecom World 2016 in Bangkok, an Iranian firm Arianna Gostar Espadana and a Korean company Cobaltry signed a memorandum of understanding to boost e-commerce in Iran.