Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 6
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
The second phase of Iran’s National Information Network (National Internet) was launched Feb. 6 during a ceremony attended by the country’s ICT minister, Mahmoud Vaezi, Fars news agency reported.
Access to domestic HD video services at low cost in mega-cities, providing cost-effective and high-quality internet access, increasing internet bandwidth are among the announced targets’ of the National Information Network’s second phase(P2).
The first phase of the project came into stream in August 2016 and the third phase will become operational by May 2017.
The National Information Network’s bandwidth currently stands at 4,000 gigabits per second and is planed to reach 10,000 gigabits per second by May 2017, once the third phase of the project becomes operational.
Since 2005 Iran has been developing its National Information Network to improve control over its content as well as speed. The project, which is separate from the World Wide Web was scheduled to be completed by the end of the fifth five-year development plan (2011-15).
This network will be separated from the rest of the internet and is specifically for domestic use.
Authorities claim the national Internet would not lead to a cut in Internet access. But critics warn it could allow the government to cut off access to foreign sites, restricting access to information and preventing users from sharing information online.