During a two-day trip to the northeastern province by Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi earlier this week, projects for overhauling the already operating communication infrastructures in Torbat-e Heidariyeh, Gonabad, Bajestan, Kashmar, Neyshabur and other cities were launched.
The new projects will boost the development of ICT services in the province, the ministry's website reported.
Jahromi said the improvement of communication services should be among the priorities of local authorities, according to Financial Tribune.
“Quality communication services can provide the required infrastructure for the introduction of new services. Development in this field can enhance growth in other areas. Furthermore, telecom infrastructure can help people make their voices heard by politicians and policymakers,” he said.
He announced that over 45 billion rials ($375,000) have been spent on promoting ICT infrastructures in Neyshabour in the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2019).
Jahromi said an additional 240 billion rials ($2 million) are to be allocated to implement ICT projects in the region.
“When these projects become fully operational, communication network coverage in the rural areas and along the intercity roads of the region will improve significantly,” he said.
In a meeting with provincial authorities, Jahromi said, "A pilot project on developing Internet access in rural areas will be launched in the region in the coming months."
Details of the project are yet to be announced.
On the second day of his trip, Jahromi visited Neyshabour's tech center and post office, as well as the under-construction scientific and cultural center named Aflak Nama in the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.