Information and communications technologies companies and mobile phone operators have delivered their performance reports with a main focus on local potentials, a member of the parliament's Industries and Mines Commission, Ramezanali Sobhani-Far said.
Representatives of Iran's three mobile operators, including Telecommunications Company of Iran, and the Iranian Net Communication and Electronic Services Co., met with lawmakers and delivered explanations on utilizing domestic products and potential. According to the MP, the reports submitted by the mobile, ICT and optic fiber operators were checked, Mehr News Agency reported.
"The report indicates that a number of SIM cards and optic fiber cables are being produced locally," he said.
TCI is developing a roadmap so that Base Transceiver Stations can also be manufactured locally. TCI and the Communications Regulatory Authority of Iran will prepare a list of companies that can help with the proposed project.
To further promote local production of telecommunications equipment, the MP suggested the use of tariff-setting mechanisms.
"Import tariffs on equipment that can be locally produced need to be raised in order for local products to be able to compete with foreign counterparts."
The parliament has stressed on developing domestic telecommunication equipment as well as ties with academic and research centers, head of the Majlis Industries and Mines Commission, Reza Rahmani, said.
Rahmani added that operators were asked to elaborate on measures they had taken to include academic and research centers in their development programs.
This week, Telecoms Minister Mahmoud Vaezi is also expected to defend his tenure before the commission. Vaezi received an official warning from MPs in April for delaying the launch of the National Information Network, also known as the National "Iranian Intranet".
The intranet is described as "a secure network to store and exchange information and gain access to the Internet."
Plans to establish a national intranet started in early 2005.
Officials say the network is meant to improve cyber security but opponents say the project could restrict Iranian users' access to the web.
The project is planned to be completed in the Fifth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2011-16). However, it is likely to miss the approaching deadline.
