Major National Space Projects to Be Completed This Year

TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking on Saturday at the Iranian Space Research Center during a ceremony marking World Telecommunication and Information Society Day and AI Week — attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian — Hashemi stated that the country’s space industry is not only continuing to grow but is accelerating rapidly.

He noted that major achievements are expected this year in both satellite development and infrastructure projects, highlighting the Chabahar base and the Salmas and Chenaran initiatives as pivotal milestones.

Hashemi emphasized that data-driven governance is a top priority for the 14th administration. Referring to President Pezeshkian’s emphasis on digital infrastructure, he said the national geospatial project, “G-NAF” (Geocoded National Address File), will be pursued seriously in the management of land resources. “We’ve seen significant progress and established constructive engagement with government bodies and the judiciary,” he added.

The minister also underscored the importance of content production alongside infrastructure development, a topic regularly emphasized by the Supreme Leader. He announced the finalization of a revenue-sharing agreement on content creation with telecom operators, stating that it will soon be implemented.

“We believe a domestic content production movement will take shape — a promising step for Iran’s digital economy,” Hashemi said. He pledged transparency with the public, asserting that statistics shared will reflect on-the-ground realities — “neither exaggerated nor diminished.”

He added that local content creation could act as a driving force for the country’s digital economy.

Hashemi credited presidential support for improvements in communication quality since last year. He emphasized that communication has always been central to human development — from early human interactions to today’s advanced digital technologies.

He announced the ministry’s slogan for the year: “Sustainable Connectivity, Smart Living”, and stressed the need to maintain open communication channels to foster knowledge sharing and human development.

He also acknowledged public demand for better infrastructure and admitted that, in past years, investment in the communications sector had not kept pace with national needs.

The ICT minister noted that achieving a 10% share of GDP from the digital economy would require $25–30 billion in investment. “Last year, the total capital investment by operators was under $2 billion due to various constraints,” he said. The ministry is now working on incentives to boost private sector participation.

Hashemi confirmed plans to strengthen both mobile networks and fiber optic infrastructure in 2025 and announced a new initiative focused on communications diplomacy.

“Our domestic capabilities have matured to the point where we can offer products and services internationally,” he said, referring to recent outreach to Latin America. “Our trip to Latin America was aimed at opening new markets for our youth and proving our ability to compete globally.”

Hashemi laid out the broader vision of the 14th government’s communications strategy: to make Iran a regional hub of the digital economy. This includes expanding digital infrastructure, attracting investment, and supporting local tech innovation.

“From the beginning of human civilization, communication has shaped societies. Today, thanks to modern technologies, we are entering a new phase of human development,” he said.

He reiterated the ministry’s main goals: improving network quality, boosting investment, developing 5G and fiber networks, and expanding international partnerships. He cited a recent visit to China, where agreements were reached to enhance technology cooperation.

The minister also emphasized “technology diplomacy” as a priority and said domestic production is now mature enough for global markets. He highlighted partnerships with countries like Venezuela as successful examples of this effort.” National Space Projects”

In a notable development, he reported a 50% increase in data transit through Iran in the past four months, reinforcing the country’s strategic role in regional connectivity.

In closing, Hashemi highlighted the critical role of human capital in driving the digital economy. He announced a government initiative to train 500,000 individuals in digital skills through partnerships with the Technical and Vocational Organization and private sector stakeholders.

“Our vision is to build a strong and forward-looking Iran — powered by young talent and global cooperation,” he said.