455 projects opened to strengthen digital, telecom infrastructure in Fars
About 455 communication and digital infrastructure projects in the southern province of Fars were inaugurated on Saturday, in a ceremony attended by the minister of information and communications technology (ICT).
The projects are part of the government’s national program to expand digital and communication infrastructure, Sattar Hashemi said during the virtual inauguration ceremony, as reported by IRNA.
The projects include initiatives in rural connectivity, fiber-optic networks, national infrastructure, and the rollout of new generations of mobile communication technology, the report said.
Speaking at the Fars Provincial Planning and Development Council, the ICT minister underscored the central role of technology in driving Iran’s economic growth.
“If we are talking about economic development and growth, it is impossible to achieve without leveraging technology,” he said. “Lawmakers attribute 35% of the mandated growth target to productivity — and that 35% is simply unattainable without technology.”
Hashemi added that the use of information and communication technology — from basic infrastructure to smart systems — is no longer optional. “In leading economies, the digital economy accounts for more than 40% of total GDP, which is remarkable,” he said.
Hashemi emphasized that top global companies at the present are those engaged in the digital and technology sectors.
“The more we invest in digital economy and energy-related technologies, the more enduring capacity we build for the province and the country,” Hashemi said.
The minister’s visit to Fars and the inauguration of a large number of projects mark a significant step toward improving network coverage, expanding fiber-optic infrastructure, and boosting connectivity in underserved areas, IRNA wrote.
The move is expected to strengthen Iran’s digital infrastructure and foster closer links between academic, technological, and government sectors.