Telecoms news from Iran

Google: Iranian Gmail Accounts Targeted

Google says an operation has been under way to steal the passwords to tens of thousands of Gmail accounts belonging to users in Iran. ...more.

U.S. Lifts Ban On Sale Of Communications Gear To Iranians

The United States has lifted a ban on sales of communications equipment to Iranians and opened access to Internet services and social media. ...more.

Turkcell Drops $4.2 Billion Lawsuit Against MTN in the USA

Turkey based Turkcell has dropped a lawsuit it was filing in the USA claiming that South Africa's MTN used bribery to deprive it of its Iranian mobile network license. ...more.

Text Messages With Name Of Ahmadinejad Aide Blocked/Unblocked In Iran

The Iran News Network website, which is affiliated with the country's government, reported on April 5 that SMS messages containing the last name of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's top aide, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, were blocked in Iran. ...more.

Iran to Manage Phone Signal Stength Along Border Areas

The Iranian government has signed a deal with its neighboring countries to control mobile base station signal leakage across borders. The agreement was brokered by the GCC Telecom Bureau. ...more.

Iranian Ayatollah Calls for Ban on 3G Mobile Networks

An Iranian mobile network has been criticized for offer 3G mobile data services after a religious leader said the downsides of such facilities were greater than their benefits. ...more.

MTN Says its Acquitted in Iran Bribery Allegations

South Africa based MTN Group has issued an independent report into the allegations that it used bribery to secure an operating license in Iran - and concluded that the company did not do what it was alleged to have done. ...more.

Huawei Accused of Offering to sell Embargoed Computer Equipment to Iran

Huawei has been accused of offering to sell equipment to the Iranian authorities that would be illegal under US sanctions against the country. ...more.

Ericsson Working With Iranian Telecoms Networks

Ericsson has been accused of working with Iran's largest mobile network, and has reportedly agreed to support another network for the next decade. ...more.

MTN Group Grows Subscriber Base to Nearly 183 Million

South Africa's MTN Group has delivered what it called a "satisfactory set of results" for the quarter ended 30 September 2012, increasing subscriber numbers by 3.8% to 182.7 million. ...more.

Cisco Terminates Sales Agreement with ZTE over Iran Allegation - Report

USA based Cisco Systems is reported to have terminated a long standing reseller agreement with China's ZTE following allegations that ZTE resold Cisco equipment to Iran, in violation of US laws. ...more.

Iranian Telecoms Network Equipment Market Spot Light

The development of telecom network industry in Iran is lagging behind, mainly because of Iran's poor industrialization. Iran's population has reached 75 million in 2011, with 60% urban population. ...more.

South African Ambassador Accused of Accepting Bribes from MTN

South Africa's foreign ministry has started an investigation into claims that the country's former Ambassador to Iran took a US$200,000 bribe to help MTN's attempt to secure a mobile license in the country. ...more.

South Africa's MTN Investigated Over Bribery Allegations

South Africa's anti-corruption police force has started looking into allegations that MTN paid bribes to secure its Iranian mobile operating license. ...more.

MTN Irancell Ordered to Improve Coverage on Contested Islands in the Gulf

MTN's Iranian subsidiary has been ordered by the government to expand its network coverage to a series of islands in the Gulf which are in dispute with the United Arab Emirates. ...more.

MTN Denies Turkcell Allegations of Iranian Bribery

South Africa's MTN Group has refuted the allegations made by Turkish mobile network, Turkcell that it used bribery to secure its controversial Iranian mobile operator license. ...more.

Former MTN CEO Denies Turkcell Bribery Allegations

The former CEO at South Africa's MTN Group has denied claims that he authorised the payment of bribes to government officials to help secure a GSM operator license in Iran. ...more.

Turkcell Files Lawsuit Against MTN Over Iranian License

Turkey's Turkcell has confirmed that it is suing South Africa's MTN Group over the disputed Iranian mobile license tender. ...more.

MTN Condemns US Legal Action by Turkcell Over Iranian Investment

South Africa's based MTN has condemned Turkcell's attempt to use the threat of a U.S. legal claim to -- as it puts it -- extort money from MTN. ...more.

MTN Group Facing a Lawsuit Over its Iranian Mobile Subsidiary

South Africa's MTN Group has confirmed that it is facing a lawsuit in the USA initiated by Turkey's Turkcell over its stake in an Iranian mobile network. ...more.