Topic: Iran plans to start with its own "Internet" in next two years (Ya Hagh)

[Samker]

Iran has inserted itself into headlines again. Instead of using psychological warfare and other efforts to create obstacles for the West, Iran is launching a different kind of war. Iran is launching a war on the Internet and is creating its own. This is another effort by Iran to decrease the influences of the West, according to the original Wall Street Journal article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704889404576277391449002016.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsTop

Iran’s telecommunications chief claims that, in two years time, all Iranians will be forced to use a internal, state-controlled (censored) Internet. He says about 60 percent of homes and business will be on the new Internet even sooner. The Islamic state sees it as a way to uphold Islamic moral values. One wonders if they can truly block the world’s Internet.

Iran has been facing problems in its own country due to the proliferation of pro-democracy blogs and anti-regime activity since the uprisings in other Middle Eastern nations started earlier this year. Top officials support internet regulation as a way to stop what they see as a war waged by the West.

Iran will roll out a parallel network with the current one and then make a full and final switch to its own Internet. The 11 percent of Iranians, or approximately 8.5 million people, who have internet access, will be forced to use a non-Microsoft operating system and a national search engine called “Ya Hagh” (Oh, Justice).

(PCW)

[jheysen]

Interesting, but I don't thik they will be able to accomplish their objective.
1. Mobile Internet access via 3G will requiere to shutdown international calling services.
2. The alternative to "Any western OS" is... program your own OS... so, I wish them luck there :p
3. The Ciberinfraestructure necesary to uphold a "parallel internet" is just too bast and expensive.
3.1 Again, if they don't want any "western influence", they'll have to make their own CPUs, to say the least.
4. Even if they don't want, Satellite Internet Access is a posibility.
5. If the country quits completely from the internet, they'll lose on tourism, as they won't have like, official websites.
6. Quitting from the internet will require them to cut their links to Internet backbones, but I don't know if a continental backbone passes trough there. I have the feeling that one does, though.

And a long etc...

[secure]

Thanks samker for the info. @jheysen, just a short view on your points:
1- 3G has not yet implemented in iran, still, the type of services to be provided is in their hand if once they get 3G
2- I don't think they tend to do so, at least currently. For now, it's just about Microsoft. But you can make sure about ongoing projects on OS!
3- This doesn't seem to be an obstacle as they it is worth it
3.1- Not that much deep independence they aim, it's just about internet!!
4- Satellite access requires huge dish size + high expenses on providing and maintaining services (people-wise). Even the use of satellite receivers is prohibited according to the law (since 17 years ago) so, it is physically unlikely that this solution goes though
5- Tourism has a negligible impact on the country's annual income. Neither do they take the issue seriously, nor do the websites greatly contribute to the tourism
6- This is not the case, they will have backbone links however, it seems that they plan to greatly limit/control the access to the internet so that it results in a national quit due to frustration!!

I understand that there are so many question marks on whats and hows but let's just think that they at least have plan after years of research on this issue. Will the plan succeed? well, it requires quite long time for the outcomes but, until then (if the plan fails) a new nation-wide behavior and culture on internet will be the most important case.