Page 77 - IRANRptAug22

9.2.4 TMT corporate news
iPhones now entirely banned in Iran say local reports
Iran starts roll out of 5G mobile connectivity
Apple’s iPhones have been entirely banned in Iran, according to local media reports.
Following the reimposition of heavy sanctions on Tehran by the US under former American president Donald Trump, Apple banned the sale of its products in Iran and said none of its official agents would be involved with the country. However, the iPhone remained one of the most popular phones among Iranians, with importers bringing the smartphone in from neighbouring countries using unofficial channels.
The ban reportedly involves blocking these importers from registering new orders for Apple phones on an online system run by the Iranian Ministry of Industries, Mines and Trade (MIMT). When trying to register their orders, a message appears on the system reading: “The Apple mobile phone brand has been included in the Goods Category No. 27 since 22 May and registering orders will not be possible.”
Middle East Eye said Iranian importers were unsure why the ban has come in now.The country has been under a hardline government since the elections of last summer.
Alireza, an Iranian businessman who imports mobile phones, told the publication: "It is not clear what is happening behind the scenes and why they imposed this ban or restriction, but whatever the case, its effect can be seen in the market immediately."
Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, former information and communications technology minister, reminded people on his Telegram channel that previous efforts to ban iPhones had mixed success.
Mohammad Reza Alian, spokesman for the Mobile Phones Importers Association, told Entekhab website on that the announcement was more of a restriction rather than a ban: “We were not officially notified of the imports ban, and in talks with government officials it became clear that the restriction was due to technical problem with the order registration system that would be resolved soon,” he was cited as saying.
Iran’s two largest mobile network operators, MTN-Irancell and Mobile Communications of Iran (MCI), have started a rollout of a fifth generation (5G) mobile network in Tehran, ITMEN magazine has reported. MTN-Irancell’s first 5G mast is seen at the Communication and Information Technology Research Institute located on Kargar street in central Tehran. It was placed there in cooperation with the telecommunications ministry. Other areas of the capital will see 5G antennae installed gradually over the next few months by both operators.
The rollout forms part of a push by the government to spearhead the digitisation of state services and grow Iran’s technology sector despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis now into its third wave in the country.
MCI said it was in the process of localising equipment needed for the 5G rollout.
Several new 5G masts are to be put into operation in Tehran and other cities in the next few weeks.
5G in Iran is being introduced in cooperation with unnamed Chinese telecommunications companies; Huawei equipment is being used, according to reports on the ground.
On November 2, Mehdi Akhavan Bahabadi, CEO of MCI, said at a launch introducing 5G mobile applications in the country that several deals between higher education institutions and the operator have been signed to develop
77 IRAN Country Report August 2022 www.intellinews.com