Iran set to launch National Internet

     Reza Taghipour, the Iranian Minister of Communications and Information Technology,

has announced that Iran's "National Internet" will operate nationwide starting next week.

The Mehr News Agency reported that, according to the Communications and IT Minister, the National Internet or the National Information Network will be launched in all government offices.   "About 42,000 government offices will have their internet networks transferred to the national network," Taghipour said.   He added that the switch to the National Information Network has been accomplished in government offices in 29 provinces and by next week it will be nationwide.   He maintained, however, that the broadband National Information Network will not be available for the general public at this phase.   Iranian authorities have begun developing a National Internet in reaction to "indecent" content on the World Wide Web and "security threats" posed by the internet.   Iranian internet users have been concerned that the launch of the National Internet could lead to further restrictions in their access to the World Wide Web.   Source: Radio Zamaneh