Editing Communications in Iran (section)

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[[Image:IR Telecom.JPG|thumb|300px|Iran is among the first five countries which have had a growth rate of over 20% and the highest level of development in telecommunications.<ref>{{Cite book| contribution=Iran| title=National Security and the Internet in the Persian Gulf Region| editor-first=Grey| editor-last=Burkhart| publisher=Georgetown University| date=March 1998| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703041209/http://www.georgetown.edu/research/arabtech/pgi98-4.html| contribution-url=http://www.georgetown.edu/research/arabtech/pgi98-4.html| access-date=2009-07-15| archive-date=2007-07-03}}</ref><ref name='EIU'/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.turquoisepartners.com/iraninvestment/IIM-Dec11.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402233919/http://www.turquoisepartners.com/iraninvestment/IIM-Dec11.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Iran has been awarded the [[UNESCO]] special certificate for providing telecom services to rural areas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1386/2809/html/focus.htm |title= Iran Daily - Economic Focus - 04/05/07|website=www.iran-daily.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414081017/http://www.iran-daily.com/1386/2809/html/focus.htm |archive-date=April 14, 2009}}</ref>]]

'''Iran's telecommunications industry''' is almost entirely state-owned, dominated by the [[Telecommunication Company of Iran]] (TCI). Fixed-line penetration in 2004 was relatively well-developed by regional standards, standing at 22 lines per 100 people, higher than Egypt with 14 and Saudi Arabia with 15, although behind the UAE with 27.<ref name="EIU">{{Citation |contribution=Telecoms And Technology Forecast for Iran |title=Economist Intelligence Unit |date=August 18, 2008 |contribution-url=http://www.zawya.com/printstory.cfm?storyid=EIU20081001211715204&l=000000080818 |access-date=2009-07-06 |archive-date=2015-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904071513/http://www.zawya.com/printstory.cfm?storyid=EIU20081001211715204&l=000000080818 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Iran had more than 1 [[mobile phone]] per inhabitant by 2012.<ref name="zawya.com"/>

Iran has a population of 80 million with some 56% of [[Iran]]ians under the age of 25.<ref name="EIU"/> In 2008, there were more than 52,000 rural offices, providing Telecom services to the villages across the country. The number of fixed telephone lines is above 24 million, with penetration factor of 33.66%. In 2012, there were 43 million internet users in Iran, making the country first in the Middle East in terms of number.<ref name="payvand.com1">{{cite web|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/13/jan/1177.html|title=Iran 14th in Middle East broadband ranking|website=www.payvand.com|access-date=2013-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123095129/http://www.payvand.com/news/13/jan/1177.html|archive-date=2013-01-23|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/iran/ |title=CIA – The World Factbook |publisher=Cia.gov |access-date=2012-01-23 }}</ref><ref name="atiehbahar.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.atiehbahar.com/Resource.aspx?n=1000014 |title=Resources – Iran telecom Brief |publisher=Atieh Bahar |date=2008-10-20 |access-date=2012-01-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224024915/http://www.atiehbahar.com/Resource.aspx?n=1000014 |archive-date=2012-02-24 }}</ref> As of 2020, 70 million Iranians are using high-speed [[mobile internet]].{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Iran is among the first five countries which have had a growth rate of over 20 percent and the highest level of development in telecommunications.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.georgetown.edu/research/arabtech/pgi98-4.html |title= National Security and the Internet in the Persian Gulf: Iran|website=www.georgetown.edu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703041209/http://www.georgetown.edu/research/arabtech/pgi98-4.html |archive-date=July 3, 2007}}</ref> Iran has been awarded the [[UNESCO]] special certificate for providing telecommunication services to rural areas. By the end of 2009, Iran's [[telecommunications]] market was the fourth-largest market in the region at $9.2 billion and is expected to grow to $12.9 billion by 2014 at a [[CAGR]] of 6.9 percent.<ref name="voice-quality.tmcnet.com">{{cite web|url=http://voice-quality.tmcnet.com/topics/phone-service/articles/73387-iran-telecom-market-expected-reach-129-billion-2014.htm |title=Iran Telecom Market Expected to Reach $12.9 Billion by 2014: Report |publisher=Voice-quality.tmcnet.com |date=2010-01-22 |access-date=2012-01-23}}</ref>

According to the ''Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries'' (EJISDC), the [[information and communications technology]] (ICT) sector had a 1.1–1.3% share of GDP in 2002. About 150,000 people are employed in the ICT sector, including around 20,000 in the software industry.<ref name="ebusinessforum.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.ebusinessforum.com/index.asp?layout=newdebi&country_id=IR|title=Telecommunications, telecoms, mobile, broadband, communications, TMT industry analysis and data from The EIU|first=EIU Digital|last=Solutions|website=www.ebusinessforum.com|access-date=2006-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813091822/http://www.ebusinessforum.com/index.asp?layout=newdebi&country_id=IR|archive-date=2006-08-13|url-status=live}}</ref> There were 1,200 registered information technology (IT) companies in 2002, 200 of which were involved in software development. Software exports stood around $50 million in 2008.<ref name="iran-daily.com">[http://iran-daily.com/1387/3259/html/economy.htm Iran Daily: Software Exports Hit $45m] Retrieved November 2, 2008 {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Between 2009 and 2020 the Telecommunications market more than doubled.<ref>{{cite web|title=Telecom industry size in Iran 2009–2020|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/557267/iran-telecom-industry-size/|access-date=2020-08-05|website=Statista|language=en}}</ref>