In a concerning revelation, the ‘Speed Test’ website’s December 2023 report highlighted that Iran’s mobile internet speed has plummeted to its lowest point in the past year. The report, which regularly assesses and publishes global internet speed data, indicated a significant decline in Iran’s standing, as the country now ranks 78th in the world for mobile internet speed.
According to the statistics provided by Speed Test, Iran’s mobile internet download speed reached a mere 29.31 Mbps, while the upload speed dropped to 46.9 Mbps in December. These figures represent the lowest recorded speeds in the country over the past 12 months. Further analysis of the data revealed a striking decrease of over 20% in mobile internet speed within the last year.
Notably, Iran’s fixed internet speed also experienced a decline in December compared to the previous month, landing the country at the 152nd position among 178 nations in terms of fixed internet speed. Alarmingly, countries such as Mozambique, Tanzania, Fiji, and Zambia boast higher average fixed internet speeds than Iran.
The downtrend in internet speed comes at a time when the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology authorized fixed and mobile operators to increase their internet package tariffs by 34%.
Consequently, on the 8th of the same month, mobile operators raised the cost of citizens’ access to the censored internet. The Commission for Regulation and Communication also informed relevant companies of an increase in fixed operators’ tariffs on January 24th.
This concerning scenario prompted the Tehran Electronic Commerce Association to release a report this week, characterizing Iran’s internet situation as ‘dangerous.’ The report highlighted Iran’s dubious distinction as one of the countries with the poorest internet quality globally.
Criticizing the state of filtering and ongoing disruptions in Iran’s internet landscape, the authors of the report asserted that the country’s president bears primary responsibility for the lamentable state of internet access in Iran, as per his legal powers.
As the nation grapples with these challenges, there is growing concern about the impact on communication, commerce, and overall societal well-being.
