Iran’s Telecommunication Infrastructure Company (TIC), which manages, operates, maintains and updates all state-owned fixed telecoms backbone infrastructure assets, has announced that the country will hold its third auction for the provision of voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) services, with a ‘call for collaboration’ to be released in December 2013, WiMAX News reports. However, no further details on the tender were released. TIC is a public joint stock company operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology.
According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, the VoIP services offered by more than 100 internet service providers (ISPs) were deemed illegal in May 2008 after fixed line incumbent Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) complained that it was losing out on fixed telephony revenues. In December 2008 it was reported that three VoIP licences had been awarded to Tarashe Sabz, Zoha Kish Telecom and Pishgaman Kavir Yazd (PKY), allowing the trio to carry domestic and international voice calls; other operators have since been awarded licences. According to a document published in September 2012, the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) was also revising its policies on VoIP regulation.
In separate, but related news, the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Mahmoud Vaezi, said on Tuesday that Iran is scheduled to make a substantial investment in its ICT infrastructure. According to Zawya, Mr Vaezi revealed that his ministry is trying to establish a communication corridor linking the eastern and western parts of Asia to the northern and southern parts of the continent.