Iran bans fast internet to cut west's influence (Guardian)

Iran bans fast internet to cut west's influence

· Service providers told to restrict online speeds
· Opponents say move will hamper country's progress

Robert Tait in Tehran
Wednesday October 18, 2006
The Guardian

Iran's Islamic government has opened a new front in its drive to stifle
domestic political dissent and combat the influence of western culture -
by banning high-speed internet links.

In a blow to the country's estimated 5 million internet users, service
providers have been told to restrict online speeds to 128 kilobytes a
second and been forbidden from offering fast broadband packages.
The move by Iran's telecommunications regulator will make it more
difficult to download foreign music, films and television programmes,
which the authorities blame for undermining Islamic culture among the
younger generation. It will also impede efforts by political opposition
groups to organise by uploading information on to the net.

The order follows a purge on illegal satellite dishes, which millions
of Iranians use to clandestinely watch western television. Police have
seized thousands of dishes in recent months.

The latest step has drawn condemnation from MPs, internet service
companies and academics, who say it will hamper Iran's progress.
"Every country in the world is moving towards modernisation and a
major element of this is high-speed internet access," said Ramazan-ali
Sedeghzadeh, chairman of the parliamentary telecommunications
committee. "The country needs it for development and access to
contemporary science."

-snip-