TEHRAN - Iran will inaugurate its national information network, or the national internet, by the third calendar month of Khordad (starts on May 22), the communications and information technology minister said.
 

Reza Taqipour told ILNA news agency that the first phase of the national internet project will come on stream by the month of Khordad.

The development of internet-based services in schools across the country is among objectives of the ministry, he added.
 

Since 2005, Iran has been developing a "national Internet" to improve control over its content as well as speed. The project, which is separate from the World Wide Web, will be completed by 2013. This network will be separated from the rest of the internet, specifically for domestic use.