Iran Gov’t Prioritizing Establishment of IoT Infrastructure

Deputy Telecoms Minister Amir Hossein Davaie said establishing Internet of Things in the country requires clear rules and efficient infrastructure defined by the ministry, urging the necessity of the government’s involvement in the subject.

IoT applications allow users to monitor everything from fridges to metro systems by connecting remote sensors with computers, mobile phones and smartwatches.

“As long as the government does not play a major role in the matter and there are no clear rules and regulations, no window for implementing IoT would be opened,” Davaie, who is the deputy minister for technology and innovation, was also quoted as saying by CITNA on the sidelines of an IoT workshop held in Tehran.

Iran’s Faculty of Information and Communications Technology hosted a three-day international workshop on IoT, which wrapped up on Monday.

The workshop was organized jointly by the International Telecommunications Union, the Faculty of ICT, Iran’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Chinese Academy of ICT under the auspices of the ITU ASP COE.

 Infrastructures

Davaie said the preliminary requirement to pave the way for establishing IoT in the country is improvement of infrastructures.

“There are currently several firms and operators seeking to launch IoT in the country. However, they are facing piloting issues due to lack of infrastructure,” he said.

The deputy minister touched upon recent moves undertaken in the field, saying the Internet Protocol version 6, which is a necessity, is due to be launched by the end of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2018).

IPv6 is the latest version of Internet protocols set to replace the current IPv4 protocol.

The sixth version uses a 128-bit structure while the old IPv4 can only deliver a 32-bit structure for Internet communications.

The development of machine-to-machine and Internet of Things technology can connect many devices such as mobile phones, cameras and even home appliances and digital picture frames. This has increased the need to improve the Internet protocol.

 Security

Davaie noted that the biggest challenge in running IPv6 and IoT is the “security of users and data” and protecting their privacy, which should top the agenda.

IoT, around the globe, is advancing business prospects and bringing new capabilities and efficiencies to companies to help them stay competitive.

However, its great potential also comes with new opportunities for cybercriminals.

A single cyberattack can inflict millions of dollars in damage. These threats are unfortunately inherent to IoT technology, which is reshaping almost every element of modern life, from driving cars to taking medication and adjusting the thermostat.

Unlike data and privacy breaches, which threaten to compromise medical records and credit-card information, the security risks to IoT devices could have far greater consequences—for example, putting patients, automobile drivers and others at risk.

Davaie noted that should the country be equipped with IoT technology, setting up proper standards for securing IoT devices is prioritized over all other factors.