Page 37 - IRANRptApr19

Overall, the number of Iranian Internet users now stands at 46.3mn people, or 64 % of the population.
The survey also delved into social media in the Islamic Republic. The obtained figures suggest that some 53% of Iranian Internet users above the age of 15 years-old were active on social messaging apps like Telegram and Whatsapp. Despite being officially blocked , Telegram via proxies remains a popular application. It took pole position in the popularity stakes for communications applications in Iran.
The statistics suggesting foreign messaging apps remaining dominant will not be music to the ears of those running local messaging apps in Iran. Iranians generally remain unconvinced by local messaging apps, fearing they are the work of their country’s intelligence organisations.
Alternative local application Soroush has been ridiculed and slammed by Iranians as insecure and liable to hacking by government agencies. There have been claims it was developed by Iranian intelligence operatives. Since the introduction of 4G internet in Iran, the main players in the mobile market have pushed their fast internet connectivity.
The SpeedTest Global Index, an international internet speed checker, ranked Iranasthe58t h fastestof107countries,MehrNewsAgencyreportedlast September.
Many foreign brands are to be banned from advertising in Iran following a ruling passed by the country’s parliament, Iran Labour News Agency reported on January 6. The legislation leaves wiggle room for products made to at least a degree with the use of Iranian production facilities. Some 155 lawmakers voted in favour of the ban, with 19 against and nine abstaining. The push against foreign brands is part of a bid to support local counterpart products struggling in a recession-hit economy, weighed down by the severe devaluation of the Iranian rial (IRR) in the face of US sanctions, and against the popularity of brands from Europe and East Asia.
National television channels, print media, web and social media and billboard companies will be banned from providing advertising platforms for foreign brands.
If an advertiser is caught breaching the law, they could be fined 10 times the sale value of the advertisement, according to the ruling.
Separately, the parliament reminded all governmental organisations and their affiliates that they remain obliged to only use and buy domestic products. Despite the push to support local products, many among Iran’s large middle class continue to prefer purchasing brands like LG and Samsung over local alternatives including Pars Khazar and Pakshoma.
The price differences between local-equivalent products and foreign items have greatly expanded in recent months due to the devaluation of the rial, currently down about 60% against hard currencies since the start of last year. According to one local price comparison site, emalls.ir, a top of the range Pakshoma washing machine currently retails for IRR53mn (€418) while a rival imported Samsung washing machine costs IRR106mn (€837).
9.1.6 Agriculture sector news
Iran has imported 2,000 sheep livestock via airfreight from Romania, Iran Student News Agency has reported.
Iranian officials are increasingly looking for meat supplies from abroad with Iran’s production dipping due to the price of animal feed. It has become expensive to the average Iranian farmer amid the country’s US sanctions-hit
37 IRAN Country Report April 2019 www.intellinews.com