Vodafone Begins Collaboration with Iranian Company HiWEB

Vodafone, the world's second-largest mobile phone company, announced on Tuesday, October 19, the start of its collaboration with the Iranian internet company HiWEB. According to Reuters, the large British company Vodafone intends to assist HiWEB, an Iranian internet service provider, in updating its network and infrastructure in Iran. HiWEB's public relations also stated on its website that 'this partnership includes the exclusive use of Vodafone's technical and specialized capabilities in the Iranian market, and HiWEB will be able to offer Vodafone's products and services in the Iranian market and provide services to the international customers of this company upon their entry into Iran.' The news adds that 'the provision of Vodafone's Internet of Things platform, which is operational in 48 countries worldwide, is among the other aspects of this partnership.' Vodafone operates across Europe, Africa, Australia, and Egypt, and Diego Masida, Vodafone's executive director for joint markets, told Reuters that HiWEB can now access Vodafone's global expertise, and Iranian customers will benefit from 'high-quality network services.' Following the nuclear agreement between Iran and Western powers and the lifting of some sanctions against Iran, many Western companies have sought to enter the Iranian market. In this context, the American newspaper New York Times reported on October 8 that the large American mobile company AT&T has recently partnered with the Iranian company RighTel to provide voice and data services to customers in Iran who have American mobile phones. RighTel is a fully state-owned company, and its contract with AT&T, which was signed in March, is the first of its kind in Iran, making AT&T the first American company to provide mobile services in Iran. Masoud Daneshmand, an official from the Iran Chamber of Commerce, told the New York Times that this partnership is 'a step in the right direction' and 'the fact that it is now possible to make calls with a mobile phone both in Iran and in America is a sign of goodwill from both sides.' According to statistical reports from Iran's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, 22 million Iranians use mobile internet, and 9 million people use ADSL internet, with the mobile penetration rate in Iran reaching about 97.5 percent. Iran and six world powers reached an agreement last year that limits Tehran's nuclear program while ending related sanctions. The lifting of these sanctions has so far helped Iran's trade relations with the world in some areas, but it still faces obstacles in other areas, including banking.