TMCnet (press release)
July 11 2005
Iran launches huge fiber-optic network
Iran on Monday inaugurated a US$700 million (euro580 million)
nationwide fiber-optic network, which outgoing President Mohammad
Khatami said could turn this country into a regional
telecommunications hub.
Khatami was quoted by state-run media as saying the network, which
started being built in 1994, was akin to a digital Silk Road, a
reference the medieval byway that linked China to Europe via Iran.
“Enjoying the network, Iran now is ready to be the regional
communication hub,” Khatami said at an inauguration ceremony. “From
now on we are capable to provide telecommunication services to the
world.”
Telecommunications Minister Ahmad Motamedi said replacing the former
analog microwave backbone with a 56,000 kilometer (34,798 mile) long
fiber-optic network will advance regional and international
communications.
The network has initially connected Iran with neighboring Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates while broadening
telecommunications services in remote parts of Iran. It will also
link Iran to Pakistan, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Turkey in the future.