Using the results of an intense round of desk and field research complemented with a series of primary interviews, this report provides a detailed study of the Iranian Telecommunications sector. The report covers the history and current status of the country’s telecommunication network, as well as taking a detailed look at the Telecommunications Company of Iran (TCI). Furthermore, privatization processes and objectives in the sector, the situation of the country’s fixed and mobile telephone lines, call tariffs and much more are evaluated. In essence, this report provides all the necessary information a foreign company, which is interested in investing in telecommunications in Iran, needs

Table of Contents

I.                    Introduction industry

1.      Brief Description

2.      Brief history

                               Table 1 – Iran’s telecom history

3.      Industry Segments

4.      Key Players

II.                 General Country Information

1.      Geography & demographics

                               Chart 1 - Iran’s demographics Profile

2.      Economic Indicators

                               Chart 2 - GDP growth rate

                               Chart 3 – GDP Distribution

3.      Regulatory Environment

III.               Socio-Economic

1.      Stakeholders & their power

                                         Table 2 - National telecommunications authorities

2.      Government Factors

                                                               i.      Privatization

                                                             ii.      Forth five year plan (2005-2010)

                                         Table 3 - Annual fixed-line objectives for the Fourth five year plan 

                                                            iii.      Third operator license

3.      Economic Indicators Relevant to the industry (What are they?)

                                         Table 4 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 

IV.              Telecommunication Infrastructure (Is this easy to find)

1.      National Telecom Network

2.      Submarine and Terrestrial cable networks

3.      Satellite networks

V.                 Telecommunication Services

1.      Fixed Network operators (Fixed Lines)

                                                               i.      Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI)      

1.      Domestic Companies cooperating with TCI

2.       Foreign Companies cooperating with TCI

                                                             ii.      Zoha Kish                   

                               Table 5 - Telephone network statistics (fixed lines)

2.      Mobile Telephone Lines

                                                               i.      Overview of Iran’s mobile market

                                                             ii.      Mobile Statistics

                                                            iii.      Major Mobile Operators

1.      MCI

2.      Irancell

3.      Mobile Telecommunication Company of Isfahan (MTCE)

4.      Rafsanjan Industrial Complex (RIC)/Taliya

5.      Telecommunications Kish Company (TKC)

6.      Ispadan

                                                           iv.      Payment Types

                                                             v.      Mobile Services

1.      SMS

2.      GPRS

3.      MMS

                                                           vi.      Activation Fees (note: for a new operator this is very important, as this can be a major source of revenue)

                                                          vii.      Pricings

Table 6 - Mobile user statistics

Table 7 - Mobile service Activation (can we show trend?)

Table 8 - Mobile Services spending by service type (can we show trend?)

Table 9 – Mobile Average Spending per subscription 

3.      Broadband and Internet Market

                                                               i.      Overview of the Internet market

1.      Internet Statistics

2.      ISP Market

                                                             ii.      Connection Types

1.      Wired

2.      Wireless

Table 10 –Internet statistics

Table 11 - Internet user and penetration estimates - 1995 - 2006

                                                            iii.      Pricing

VI.              Conclusion

1.      Industry Attractiveness

(an analaysis of entry barriers (working capital reqs, brand identity, monopolies, buyer switching costs, price sensitivity, diversity of competitors, etc)

2.      Opportunities and Challenges

VII.            Appendices

1.      History of Telecommunications in Iran