Iran National Information Network Receiving Upgrades

A project targeting the development of transport layers named 'Talash 3', which is part of Iran's National Information Network expansion, was launched in a ceremony on February 4. 

The National Information Network was initially launched in August 2016 as an alternative independent network with content that is compatible with Islamic values. 

Telecoms Minister Mahmoud Vaezi said three projects are simultaneously underway in line with government plans to develop the key sector, Mehr News Agency reported.

These include optical fiber projects, development of data transfer networks and the national IP network, he said. 

In computer networking, the transport layer is a conceptual division of methods in the layered architecture of protocols in the network stack in the Internet Protocol Suite and the Open Systems Interconnection. 

Protocols of the layer provide host-to-host communication services for applications. It provides services such as connection-oriented data stream support, reliability, flow control, and multiplexing.

When the Rouhani administration took office in 2013, the capacity was 1,000 gigabytes per second. In the second phase launched in April 2016 capacity reached 4,000 gigabytes, Vaezi said, adding that in the latest phase named 'Talash 3' capacity will reach 10,000 gigabytes per second.  

Vaezi said with the launch of Talash 3, network interference would reduce significantly resulting in better speed and connection quality for the national information network.  

"The project will ultimately help advance the development of startups and knowledge-based businesses." 

Second Phase 

The second phase of Iran's National Information Project is to be unveiled February 6. 

NIN–also known as Internet-e-Paak (meaning clean in Persian, implying an Internet free of unethical and socially offensive content)— is an alternative and independent countrywide network. Its content is compatible with Islamic values.

NIN is reportedly designed to facilitate Iranian users’ access to indigenous content. 

Officials related to the project earlier said NIN will not disconnect Iran from the World Wide Web, but act as a secondary domestic source.

Vaezi said "tariffs for the national information network are half the price users pay for using the Internet."

All telecom companies and operators have been notified of the pricing scheme and some firms have already put this into effect.

The minister, however, did not add how many ISP's had signed up for the NIN.  

He says the plan was never meant to limit users' Internet access and was launched primarily to cut expenses, decrease interference and improve speed. "IP network capacity will also increase by April 20."  

Regarding the optical fiber project the minister added that in the first project named 'Noor 1,' meaning Optic 1 in Persian, the optic fiber network had increased by 10,000 kilometers. 

The second project 'Noor 2' targeted expansion by 13,500 kilometers and is 60% complete.