Editing Economy of Iran (section)

==== Communications, electronics and IT ====
{{Main|Communications in Iran|Telecommunication Company of Iran|Media of Iran|}}

Broadcast media, including five national radio stations and five national television networks as well as dozens of local radio and television stations are run by the government. In 2008, there were 345 telephone lines and 106 personal computers for every 1,000 residents.<ref name="WB2" /> Personal computers for home use became more affordable in the mid-1990s, since when demand for Internet access has increased rapidly. As of 2010, Iran also had the world's third largest number of [[Iranian blogs|bloggers]] (2010).<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=167963 Hackers take Iran's civil war online]. ''Jerusalem Post'', February 6, 2010. Retrieved February 6, 2011</ref>

In 1998, the Ministry of Post, Telegraph & Telephone, later renamed the [[Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (Iran)|Ministry of Information & Communication Technology]], began selling Internet accounts to the general public. In 2006, revenues from the Iranian telecom industry were estimated at $1.2 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1385/2681/html/focus.htm |title=Privatization of Telecom Companies |access-date=February 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219133406/http://www.iran-daily.com/1385/2681/html/focus.htm |archive-date=February 19, 2008 }}. ''Iran Daily'', October 9, 2006.</ref> In 2006, Iran had 1,223 Internet Service Providers (ISPs), all private sector operated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austrade.gov.au/ICT-to-Iran/default.aspx |title=Information and communications technology to Iran |access-date=May 9, 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080727015312/http://www.austrade.gov.au/ICT-to-Iran/default.aspx |archive-date=July 27, 2008 }}. Australian Trade (2006).</ref> As of 2014, Iran has the largest mobile market in the Middle East, with 83.2 million mobile subscriptions and 8 million smart-phones in 2012.<ref>[http://www.innovationiseverywhere.com/iran-mobile-market-connectivity-in-2014/ Iran's Mobile Market: Connectivity in 2014]. "Innovation Is Everywhere". Retrieved July 15, 2014.</ref>

According to the World Bank, Iran's information and communications technology sector had a 1.4% share of GDP in 2008.<ref name="WB2">[http://devdata.worldbank.org/ict/irn_ict.pdf ICT At-a-Glance, Iran's entry] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080727015312/http://devdata.worldbank.org/ict/irn_ict.pdf |date=July 27, 2008 }}. World Bank (login required). Retrieved February 4, 2011.</ref> Around 150,000 people work in this sector, including 20,000 in the software industry.<ref>[http://www.ebusinessforum.com/index.asp?layout=newdebi&country_id=IR Iran]. ''Economist Intelligence Unit'' (2006). Retrieved December 5, 2008.</ref> 1,200 IT companies were registered in 2002, 200 in software development. In 2014 software exports stood at $400 million.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} By the end of 2009, Iran's telecom market was the fourth-largest in the Middle East at $9.2 billion and was expected to reach $12.9 billion by 2014 at a compound annual growth rate of 6.9%.<ref>Susan J. Campbell, Dearbhla McHenry (January 22, 2010): [http://voice-quality.tmcnet.com/topics/phone-service/articles/73387-iran-telecom-market-expected-reach-129-billion-2014.htm "Iran Telecom Market Expected to Reach $12.9 Billion by 2014"]. TMCnet/Pyramid Research. Retrieved January 24, 2010.</ref>