October 19, 2006 at 02:21Iran slows down
By decision of the Iranian government, local Internet providers limit the speed of Internet access to private clients and Internet cafes, Reuters reports .
Last week, a spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Telecommunications told the state-owned news agency IRNA that providers are not allowed to provide network access at speeds higher than 128 kb / s. Officials do not comment on the reasons for the ban. Restrictions will not be lifted until the adoption of the law governing Internet access. It is not yet clear whether this means that after the adoption of the law, the country's inhabitants will be able to freely use high-speed Internet or the bans will continue.
The representative of one of the providers, who wished to remain anonymous, said that speed is limited only to individuals and public Internet access points, legal entities will not feel the changes. Another company says that they have not yet received official notification of a new operating procedure, but they have already limited their speed (“We do not need extra problems”).
Those who criticize the decision of the authorities, most often say that such a ban would complicate the education of students in universities, scientific research. The opposition notes that limiting the speed of Internet access is a logical continuation of the policy of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who constantly criticizes Western countries.
“Once again, we can see how the new government restricts the channels for obtaining reliable information,” said an article in the opposition newspaper Etemad-e Melli. Authorities shut down a leading pro-reformist newspaper; strict censorship was introduced in other media. Access to the BBC website is closed , through which, according to the authorities, anti-Iranian propaganda is being conducted.
Oppositionists say that the authorities consider journalists, scientists and students to be their main enemies. The government rejects the allegations, noting that it welcomes criticism. But for some reason, it forbids putting satellite dishes on houses: "they bring harmful Western values to the houses of Iranians."
Last week, a spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Telecommunications told the state-owned news agency IRNA that providers are not allowed to provide network access at speeds higher than 128 kb / s. Officials do not comment on the reasons for the ban. Restrictions will not be lifted until the adoption of the law governing Internet access. It is not yet clear whether this means that after the adoption of the law, the country's inhabitants will be able to freely use high-speed Internet or the bans will continue.
The representative of one of the providers, who wished to remain anonymous, said that speed is limited only to individuals and public Internet access points, legal entities will not feel the changes. Another company says that they have not yet received official notification of a new operating procedure, but they have already limited their speed (“We do not need extra problems”).
Those who criticize the decision of the authorities, most often say that such a ban would complicate the education of students in universities, scientific research. The opposition notes that limiting the speed of Internet access is a logical continuation of the policy of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who constantly criticizes Western countries.
“Once again, we can see how the new government restricts the channels for obtaining reliable information,” said an article in the opposition newspaper Etemad-e Melli. Authorities shut down a leading pro-reformist newspaper; strict censorship was introduced in other media. Access to the BBC website is closed , through which, according to the authorities, anti-Iranian propaganda is being conducted.
Oppositionists say that the authorities consider journalists, scientists and students to be their main enemies. The government rejects the allegations, noting that it welcomes criticism. But for some reason, it forbids putting satellite dishes on houses: "they bring harmful Western values to the houses of Iranians."