Deputy Minister of Communications in Special News Interview Explains; Fiber Optic Development Aimed at Improving Communications Quality and Moving Away from the Copper Network

Head of the Communications Regulatory Authority, outlining the latest status of fiber-optic network development nationwide, announced more than 2 million connections registered. He stressed that the Ministry of Communications' approach under the 14th government, in addition to expanding coverage, focuses on increasing user connectivity and facilitating public access to high-speed services.

The head of the Organization for the Regulation of Radio Communications, describing the latest state of development of the country's optical fiber network, announced the registration of more than two million connections and emphasized that the approach of the Ministry of Communications in the 14th government, in addition to developing coverage, is focused on increasing the connection of users and facilitating people's access to high-speed services.

According to ICT News, Hamid Fatahi, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Head of Regulatory Organization and Radio Communications and Deputy Minister of Communications Affairs, explained the necessity of developing the fiber optic network in the TV program "Special News Talk", and considered this project as one of the country's important infrastructure plans to respond to the increase in user consumption, improve the quality of communication services and provide a platform for the development of the digital economy.

transition from copper cable to optical fiber; The need to change the generation of fixed communications

Referring to the age of the country's fixed communication infrastructure, Fatahi stated: The fixed communication infrastructure in Iran has been developed mainly on the basis of copper cables over the past century, and now due to the wear and tear of equipment, the increase in user consumption and the emergence of new technologies, changing this platform to optical fiber has become an inevitable necessity.

He stated that the development of new generations of communication is done according to the needs of users and the type of services used, and added: "Old infrastructures are no longer responsive to the increasing volume of data exchange and new communication needs, and the migration from copper cable to optical fiber provides the possibility of improving the capacity and quality of the network."

The Deputy Minister of Communications listed the reduction of wear and tear of equipment, preventing problems caused by theft of copper cables, reducing energy consumption and optimizing the use of space and manpower as other benefits of this infrastructural change and said: In some sectors, the use of optical fiber-based infrastructure can reduce energy consumption by about one-eighth.

He considered the increase in the speed and quality of communication as one of the most important advantages of this technology and stated: Compared to old platforms, the capacity and speed of optical fiber-based communication can be increased up to a hundred times and provide the possibility of providing services that meet the daily needs of users.

New capacities for artificial intelligence, education and health services

Referring to the increasing need of emerging technologies for more bandwidth, the head of the Radio Communications Regulatory Organization said: Many new applications, especially in the field of artificial intelligence and content services, require capacities beyond the capacity of copper cable-based networks.

Fatahi added: In some areas, the capacity that can be provided through technologies based on copper cables and services such as ADSL is limited to around seven to eight megabits per second; While optical fiber provides the possibility of providing speeds of 500 megabits per second to one gigabit per second.

He emphasized: The development of this infrastructure, in addition to improving the experience of users in using the Internet, provides the basis for the expansion of digital services in the fields of education, healthcare and other economic sectors, and the formation of the digital economy market is also dependent on having a suitable communication infrastructure.

In response to a question about the use of optical fiber in the transmission of audio and video content and television broadcasting, the Deputy Minister of Communications stated: Video and video content, especially in live broadcasting, requires higher bandwidth, speed and quality, and the development of optical fiber can provide the necessary capacity to expand these services.

He added: moving towards wider use of high-speed communication platforms is one of the requirements for the development of new methods of content distribution and broadcasting; However, the complete replacement of the nationwide broadcast infrastructure based on radio waves with terrestrial networks requires the provision of a suitable and high-capacity infrastructure.

Changing the approach of the Ministry of Communications; From expanding coverage to increasing connectivity

Referring to the history of the implementation of optical fiber projects in the country, Fatahi said: Over the past decade, plans have been implemented to develop optical fiber-based communications; However, the National Optical Fiber Project for Homes and Businesses (FTTH) was put on the agenda with a specific approach in 1402, and its implementation began in the 13th government.

He added: This project has been pursued since the beginning of the 14th government as one of the main priorities for the development of communication infrastructure. with the difference that along with the continued development of the coverage, the increase in the number of users connected to the network has also been in the spotlight.

Explaining the difference between coverage and connection, the head of the Radio Communications Regulatory Organization stated: creating coverage means providing the possibility of connecting the user to the network within a certain range; But the connection is realized when the user uses this possibility and a fiber optic connection is established for him.

He continued: In the early stages, the main focus was on creating coverage, implementing fiber optic routes, drilling and installing active and passive network equipment; But in the 14th government, the reform of regulations and the orientation of incentives have been pursued in such a way that operators have more incentive to attract users and convert the created coverage into real connection.

Pointing to the role of the government's support resources in the implementation of this project, Fatahi said: the development of the optical fiber network in the initial stages is accompanied by significant investment costs, and the provision of part of its resources by the government has provided the basis for the project's progress. In the following, it has been tried to direct the incentives towards increasing the connection of users by using the resources of the optical fiber development fund in a targeted manner.

He announced the growth of more than 500% of optical fiber connections compared to before the 14th government took office and said: The number of connections has increased from around 350 to 360 thousand to more than two million connections. A growth that can help the gradual formation of the economic market of this technology and its sustainable development.

More than 50% progress in making connection possible

Explaining the current state of the network, the Deputy Minister of Communications stated: Currently, about 17 million fixed telephone lines based on copper cables are active in the country, and of this number, less than seven million fixed internet connections based on technologies such as ADSL are used; While the number of optical fiber connections has exceeded two million.

Referring to the targeting done in the law of the 7th Development Plan, he stated: According to the legal obligation, it should be possible to connect 20 million units in the country. Currently, the progress of the project has exceeded 50% in terms of making the connection possible across the country.

Emphasizing that not all the created coverage is necessarily converted into connection, Fatahi added: the rate of conversion of coverage into connection in different countries is subject to various conditions and depends on factors such as user needs, economic efficiency, equipment cost, service quality, and competition among operators.

He continued: The development of coverage is responsible for providing the possibility of access; But in order to increase the connection, the economic and administrative barriers must also be removed so that users can be encouraged to use this technology according to their needs.

The limitations of the mobile network have increased the necessity of developing fixed communications

Referring to the state of communication in metropolitan cities, the head of the Radio Communications Regulatory Organization said: One of the important challenges of fiber optic development is the limitations in infrastructure development, especially in big cities. In Tehran and some big cities, the issuance of drilling permits has faced obstacles and this has affected the speed of project implementation.

He added: The development of the optical fiber network requires the implementation of land routes and drilling, and urban management plays an important role in facilitating this process. There have been problems in other centers of provinces and cities, which have been partially resolved with the interaction of the responsible institutions.

Referring to Article 65 of the Seventh Development Program Law, Fatahi said: According to this law, executive and public bodies are obliged to cooperate in the implementation of optical fiber development projects and must provide the facilities, routes and infrastructure needed to advance this plan.

He considered the disagreement about the drilling tariff and some implementation considerations to be among the issues in cooperation with the municipalities and emphasized: the Ministry of Communications will follow up on these issues through interaction with the city management and the use of legal tools so that the implementation of the project will proceed faster.

Stating that the problems of the mobile network have also increased the need for the development of fixed communications, the Deputy Minister of Communications explained: Mobile communications depend on limited frequency resources and the increase in consumption and density of users, especially in densely populated urban areas, can create limitations in the quality and capacity of the network.

He added: In many countries, the major share of communication traffic is transmitted over fixed networks; But in Iran, due to the limitation of the quality and capacity of fixed communications, a greater share of consumption is on the shoulders of the mobile network. The development of optical fiber can help to change this pattern, reduce the pressure on the mobile network and improve the quality of communication services.

Financial incentives to facilitate user connection

In response to a question about the cost of connecting to optical fiber, Fatahi said: The final cost depends on the tariffs and packages provided by the operators, and one of the existing challenges is the increase in the cost of equipment needed by users.

He added: The price of network terminal equipment, including optical fiber modems, has increased significantly in the past year, and the initial cost of modem procurement and fiber optic installation inside the building can prevent some users from using this technology.

Referring to the support programs of the Ministry of Communications, the head of the Regulatory Organization of Radio Communications stated: Plans have been designed to provide incentives to operators from the resources of the Optical Fiber Development Fund in order to provide incentive packages and ease the cost of connecting users.

He listed the provision of connection services and bulk internet packages in installments as among the applicable models in this field and said: the extent of the use of support resources by operators and its effect on reducing user costs is continuously monitored so that these resources are spent in line with the main goal, which is to increase people's connectivity.

Fatahi emphasized: Operators should dedicate the received incentives to improving the connection conditions and facilitating the use of users, and their performance will be reviewed in project monitoring meetings. In case of non-fulfillment of obligations, regulatory and regulatory tools are available to the Ministry of Communications and Regulatory Organization to deal with the offending operators.

Pointing out that part of the cost of fiber optic development is related to initial investment, drilling and providing equipment, he added: The development of the fiber optic production industry and related equipment in the country, in addition to helping to advance the project, has provided the basis for creating employment and the formation of the economic chain related to this technology.