Iran has announced the launch of its first ever national data network. The inauguration ceremony was held on Saturday by country’s communications and information technology minister, Mahmoud Vaezi. According to IRNA news agency, Vaezi said the network project which began two year ago will provide high quality, high speed and low cost connectivity.

— Critics suggest the true aim is to tighten the authorities’ control over citizens’ use of the net. BBC / Aug 29: “The government says the goal is to create an isolated domestic intranet that can be used to promote Islamic content and raise digital awareness among the public. It intends to replace the current system, in which officials seek to limit which parts of the existing internet people have access to via filters - an effort Mr Vaezi described as being ‘inefficient’.”

— “The National Internet has also promised infrastructures’ security, network independence, increasing the share of internal traffic for consumers, and creating an economy for local content,” reports Mehr news agency: “The second phase which will come on stream by February 2017, will include domestic video services with affordable prices for end users, business development based on IT, and formation of an economy of datacenters, as well as increase of the quality of infrastructure services for businesses. The third phase of the project which will become operational during the first half of next Iranian calendar year (to start March 2017), will allow affordable and high-quality access to internal broadband content and services, increase infrastructure capacities and necessary facilities for domestic companies active in regional and international markets, and finally, the full realization of the country’s’ independent communication infrastructure, respecting users’ privacy, growth of IT businesses and e-government services.”