As per the agreement, Irancell will help the municipality use information and communication technology for gathering, saving, monitoring and analyzing urban data plus increasing the quality and efficiency of urban management and public services.
It is hoped that the agreement will help push Iran’s most important shrine city a step closer toward becoming a smart, clean, and environment-friendly city that can effectively support knowledge-based and technology firms, ict.gov.ir reported.
Optimizing energy consumption and enhancing urban services, especially public transportation, along with strengthening startups and promoting sustainable growth are enshrined in the rare agreement, Financial Tribune reported.
Mashhad Municipality has also announced plans to support startups active in urban management and provision of city services.
Smart City Exhibition
The agreement was signed between Irancell CEO Alireza Qalambor and Mashhad deputy mayor, Shahriar Alesheikh on Jan 2, on the opening day of Mashhad Smart City Exhibition that ended on Sunday.
The exhibition coincided with the inauguration of Mashhad Digital Economy Development Park, which is to home startups and knowledge-based firms in the ICT and urban development sectors .
New startups and smart facilities were unveiled during the event. Mashhad’s E-wallet, which is a locally-developed smartphone application that can be used for micropayments, including urban transportation costs, public parking fees, road tolls…was also introduced.
The exhibition organizers also sought to connect startups with investors and help them link with other firms. The event followed the example of the Smart Tehran Congress held last month.
Mashhad is one of the largest cities in Iran with a population exceeding 3 million. It is home to the mausoleum of Imam Reza (PBUH), the eighth Shia Imam. The holy shrine is visited by millions of pilgrims from in and outside the country every year.
Application of modern technologies can help urban planners make life easier for residents. ICT experts believe that the application of smart technologies can and will encourage responsibility, accountability and transparency.