Iran's Internet Speed Lags Way Behind Its Neighbors

Iran's internet speed is drastically falling behind those of its neighbors, according to a new report by data analysis group Iran Open Data.

The report, which analyzed archived data from internet speed testing website speedtest.net, found that while neighboring countries have seen internet speeds increase tenfold in the past seven years, Iran's speeds have only grown by 30 percent.

This growth rate has resulted in Iran falling to the bottom ranking for fixed internet speed among its 13 neighbors, with an average download speed of just 13 Mbps in October 2023. 

Iran fares slightly better for mobile internet, ranking ninth out of 13 neighbors with an average speed of 32 Mbps. 

However, this still leaves Iran behind countries like Iraq, Armenia, and Pakistan.

The report highlights the stark contrast between Iran and other countries in the Persian Gulf region.

The United Arab Emirates boasts the world's fastest mobile internet speed, while Qatar holds the second-place title. 

Other nations like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain significantly outperform Iran in both mobile and fixed internet speeds.

Globally, Iran sits at 75th place for mobile internet speed and 153rd for fixed internet speed.

The situation is particularly troubling considering Iran's internet advantage just seven years ago. 

In July 2017, Iran's mobile internet speed was a third of the UAE's, half of Qatar's, and surpassed Saudi Arabia's. 

Today, those tables have turned dramatically. The UAE's internet is now ten times faster than Iran's, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia boast speeds six and three times faster, respectively.

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Click here to read Iran Open Data's article in Persian. 

Founded in 2016, Iran Open Data (IOD) strives to make Iran’s official data accessible, available and re-usable. Not only does IOD collect and process raw datasets for researchers and experts, it also publishes exclusive data-driven articles and digital stories for the general public. Additionally, IOD conducts public data calls and surveys on often neglected or taboo issues that are rarely addressed by the government. Follow IOD for all the data-stories concerning Iran.