Iran Speed Test - Check MCI, Irancell, Rightel Speeds

Iran has 73.2 million internet users at 79.6% penetration, but speed test results reveal a network shaped by state control and aging infrastructure. Fixed broadband averages 16.21 Mbps download and 4.01 Mbps upload, while mobile speeds jumped to 49.63 Mbps in January 2025 with 5G rollout. Most connections still use aging ADSL at 2-16 Mbps. MCI dominates with 75 million mobile subscribers, Irancell grew 49% in revenue during 2024, and Rightel targets premium users with unlimited social media bundles. Test your connection to check whether your ISP delivers usable speed, especially during evening throttling and periodic government shutdowns.

Internet in Iran

The National Information Network architecture places all internet traffic under centralized government control through TIC (Telecommunication Infrastructure Company), the sole international gateway. Every ISP and mobile operator routes traffic through TIC, creating a single national chokepoint used for filtering, throttling, and periodic shutdowns.

Fixed broadband relies mostly on ADSL technology delivering 2-16 Mbps to 10.89 million subscribers as of 2023. Fiber expansion aims for 20 million premises by end of 2025 but reached only 10 million by March 2024. Mobile networks dominate with 152 million active connections at 166% population penetration.

4G covers 94.2% of the population, and 5G launched in major cities during 2025 promising 500 Mbps speeds. MCI holds 66% internet market share, TCI provides 13%, and Irancell 10%. Sanctions, currency devaluation, and state control priorities limit investment in speed upgrades.

The June 2025 and January 2026 internet blackouts demonstrated the government's ability to disconnect the country almost entirely from global internet while maintaining the domestic NIN intranet.

Internet Infrastructure in Iran

DSL and Copper

TCI (Telecommunication Company of Iran) operates the national fixed-line backbone from hundreds of central offices across the country. The copper network dates back decades and delivers ADSL at 2-16 Mbps to most subscribers, with VDSL reaching 50 Mbps in select urban areas.

Fiber Broadband

TCI averaged 38.2 Mbps on fiber connections in Q3 2025, making it the fastest domestic fixed provider. The National Fiber Optic Plan targets 20 million premises but deployment lags behind schedule at 10 million connected by March 2024. Fiber availability concentrates in Tehran and major cities, with rural areas still on aging copper.

Cable Broadband

International connectivity runs through submarine cable systems landing in southern Iran. Gulf Bridge International (GBI) connects Iran to India, the Far East, and Europe. FALCON, Europe India Gateway (EIG), I-ME-WE, and SEA-ME-WE 6 cables traverse the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

All international traffic funnels through TIC infrastructure regardless of which cable system carries the data, enabling centralized government control.

Mobile Networks

Mobile infrastructure expanded rapidly in 2024-2025 with 5G deployment. MCI, Irancell, and Rightel operate 4G networks covering 94.2% of the population. 5G launched in major cities by March 2025 with 1,313 base stations delivering up to 500 Mbps.

Irancell tested 5G at 1.4 Gbps but commercial speeds settle at 200-500 Mbps in practice. 93.1% of mobile connections qualify as broadband via 3G, 4G, or 5G networks. Mobile averages jumped from 37.86 Mbps in December 2024 to 49.63 Mbps in January 2025, a 31% increase driven by 5G rollout and C-band spectrum deployment.

Data Centers

The National Information Network serves as a parallel domestic internet with local data centers, caches, and services. Government policy pushes traffic toward NIN infrastructure through pricing incentives. International traffic costs three times more per gigabyte than domestic NIN traffic, steering users toward state-controlled platforms.

The NIN architecture enabled the June 2025 and January 2026 shutdowns where Iran maintained internal connectivity while severing links to the global internet.

Internet Speed: Urban vs Rural Iran

Urban Areas

Tehran and major cities receive the fastest service in Iran. Fiber availability concentrates here, with speeds reaching 50-100 Mbps on TCI and Shatel fiber connections. Tehran averaged 55.7 Mbps download from TCI in the October 2024 to September 2025 period.

All three mobile operators provide strong 4G and 5G coverage in the capital region with 40-50 Mbps typical speeds. Private ISPs like Shatel, Pars Online, and HiWeb operate primarily in urban markets.

Secondary Cities

Secondary cities like Isfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, and Tabriz have ADSL widely available at 4-12 Mbps with limited fiber deployment. 4G coverage spans population centers along highways. Speeds drop to 2-8 Mbps on ADSL and 25-35 Mbps on mobile as distance from central offices and cell towers increases.

Rural Areas

Rural Iran faces significant connectivity gaps. 22.1% of the population lives in rural areas with basic ADSL where copper infrastructure exists. Remote villages often have 1-4 Mbps speeds or no fixed-line service at all.

Mobile coverage follows roads and towns but leaves agricultural regions underserved. The urban-rural divide mirrors global patterns with urban speeds roughly double rural performance.

Starlink satellite internet emerged as an alternative despite government prohibition, with over 100,000 users as of late 2025. The government passed laws in June 2025 criminalizing Starlink with prison sentences of 6 months to 2 years, or execution if authorities determine espionage or intent to confront the Islamic Republic.

Internet Providers & Speed in Iran

MCI (Mobile Communications Company of Iran, also known as Hamrah-e Aval) dominates with 75 million subscribers and 66% internet market share. MCI delivers the widest 4G coverage including deep rural penetration. Mobile speeds averaged 33.3 Mbps in Q3 2025. MCI operates under government ownership and control.

Irancell (MTN Irancell)

Irancell (MTN Irancell) is the second mobile operator with strong urban presence. Irancell achieved 49% service revenue growth in H1 2024 by repricing data bundles and upselling enterprise VPN packages. Irancell tested 5G successfully but commercial rollout focuses on major cities. Speeds average 40-48 Mbps on 4G/5G networks. Irancell holds roughly 10% internet market share.

Rightel positions as the premium mobile challenger targeting youth and professionals. Rightel bundles Filimo streaming access and offers unlimited data for social media apps. Rightel operates the smallest mobile network of the three carriers but markets itself on speed and digital services rather than coverage area.

TCI (Telecommunication Company of Iran)

TCI (Telecommunication Company of Iran) is the state-owned fixed-line monopoly controlling all copper and fiber infrastructure. TCI serves as both wholesale provider and retail ISP with 13% internet market share. TCI averaged 38.2 Mbps download on fiber in Q3 2025 and 55.7 Mbps in Tehran.

ADSL remains the dominant technology at 2-16 Mbps for most fixed subscribers. All private ISPs lease last-mile access through TCI infrastructure.

Shatel

Shatel is the largest private fixed ISP with roughly 2% market share. Shatel offers ADSL, fiber, and wireless packages in urban areas. Pricing starts at 45,000 tomans monthly for night-time internet (10GB international, 20GB domestic). Standard packages deliver 41 GB international traffic or 110 GB domestic for 140,000 tomans based on June 2024 tariffs.

Pars Online and HiWeb are smaller private ISPs reselling TCI infrastructure with added customer service and bundled offerings. CBEYOND provides the fastest average fixed broadband at 36.3 Mbps across its subscriber base. All private ISPs depend entirely on TCI for last-mile copper and fiber access, limiting their ability to differentiate on speed or coverage.

Internet Speed by Region in Iran

Tehran and Central Cities

Best connectivity in Iran. Fiber available in select areas at 50-100 Mbps from TCI and Shatel. 5G deployed by MCI, Irancell, and Rightel with 200-500 Mbps peak speeds. ADSL common at 8-16 Mbps. Subject to evening throttling and government filtering.

Isfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz

Secondary cities with ADSL widely available at 4-12 Mbps. Limited fiber deployment. 4G coverage strong in urban cores at 30-45 Mbps. Speeds drop in suburbs and outskirts. Population centers receive 5G coverage as rollout expands through 2025-2026.

Rural Northern and Western Iran

Basic ADSL at 2-6 Mbps where copper infrastructure exists. Mobile coverage follows highways and towns at 15-30 Mbps. Agricultural areas have gaps. Mountainous terrain limits tower placement. Many villages lack fixed-line service entirely.

Southern and Eastern Border Regions

Minimal fixed infrastructure outside towns. Mobile coverage sparse in desert and border areas. Government prioritizes security monitoring over speed. Some areas restricted or require permits for connectivity. Starlink adoption higher here despite legal risks.

Internet Pricing in Iran

Iran's currency crisis makes internet pricing complex. The Iranian rial lost over 95% of its value since 2018 when sanctions intensified. Official exchange rates differ sharply from market rates. As of October 2025, 8 Mbps internet costs approximately $118 monthly (4,949,140 IRR) based on Tehran pricing, but this converts at official rates and actual purchasing power varies.

Fixed ADSL costs roughly 140,000 tomans per month for standard packages delivering 41 GB international traffic or 110 GB domestic traffic based on June 2024 tariffs from Shatel and Pars Online.

Night-time packages cost 45,000 tomans monthly (10GB international, 20GB domestic). International traffic pricing runs three times higher per gigabyte than domestic NIN traffic, pushing users toward government-controlled platforms.

Mobile Data Pricing

Mobile data costs approximately 320,000 tomans for 50 GB monthly based on Spring 2024 tariffs from MCI and Irancell. Combined fixed and mobile expenses total around 460,000 tomans monthly without VPN, or 560,000 tomans including VPN subscription. VPN usage is widespread to bypass filtering despite periodic government crackdowns.

Affordability

For context, monthly household expenses for basic connectivity consume significant income relative to average wages. Internet costs rose 30% across Iran in late 2023 due to inflation and exchange rate shifts.

Services below 512 Kbps and 1024 Kbps were discontinued in 2024. International traffic above 2048 Kbps saw the sharpest price increases. Fiber remains a luxury good concentrated in wealthy urban neighborhoods rather than mass-market infrastructure.

Network Technology in Iran

5G Rollout

5G deployment began in earnest during 2025 with commercial service launching in Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, and other major cities by March 2025. The number of 5G base stations reached 1,313 by late March 2024 and expanded rapidly through 2025. 5G promises download speeds up to 500 Mbps, transforming the mobile experience from 4G's 30-50 Mbps.

Actual 5G speeds settle at 200-500 Mbps depending on location and congestion. Irancell demonstrated 1.4 Gbps in laboratory conditions but commercial networks deliver far less.

4G remains the dominant mobile technology covering 94.2% of the population. 93.1% of mobile connections qualify as broadband via 3G, 4G, or 5G networks. Mobile speeds jumped 22.2% year-over-year from January 2024 to January 2025, driven by 5G rollout and spectrum expansion. MCI leads mobile speeds at 33.3 Mbps average.

Fiber Deployment

Fiber-to-the-home represents the future of fixed broadband but rollout lags targets. The National Fiber Optic Plan aims for 20 million premises by end of 2025 but reached only 10 million by March 2024. TCI prioritizes Tehran and high-value urban markets.

Legacy Technologies

Fiber delivers 50-100 Mbps where available, a massive improvement over 2-16 Mbps ADSL. Budget constraints, sanctions limiting equipment imports, and state priorities slowing commercial fiber deployment.

ADSL persists as the dominant fixed technology for millions of households. Copper infrastructure dates back decades. VDSL upgrades enable up to 50 Mbps in select areas near central offices. Most users experience 2-16 Mbps depending on distance from equipment. TCI has limited incentive to upgrade ADSL subscribers when fiber rollout already falls behind government targets.

Satellite and Emerging

Starlink satellite adoption surged past 100,000 users by late 2025 despite official prohibition and criminal penalties including possible execution for espionage charges. Users import equipment through black market channels and pay $100+ monthly for 50-200 Mbps speeds independent of government infrastructure.

The government attempted to jam Starlink signals during the January 2026 blackout using military-grade mobile jammers. Starlink represents defiance of state internet control at significant legal risk.

How to Choose an ISP in Iran

Several factors determine the best provider at your address in Iran. Check coverage, compare pricing, and test speeds before signing a contract.

Check fiber availability at your address through TCI or Shatel

If fiber is available, expect 50-100 Mbps speeds at roughly 140,000-200,000 tomans monthly. Fiber offers the best fixed performance where infrastructure exists. Contact TCI directly or private ISPs like Shatel, Pars Online, or HiWeb who resell TCI fiber with added support.

Evaluate ADSL as a fallback if fiber is unavailable

If only ADSL is available, expect 2-16 Mbps depending on distance from the central office. Urban areas near TCI equipment get 8-16 Mbps, while suburban and rural locations drop to 2-6 Mbps. ADSL costs 140,000 tomans monthly for standard packages. Night-time packages reduce cost to 45,000 tomans but limit speeds and hours.

Compare mobile operators for faster speeds than ADSL

For most Iranians, mobile 4G or 5G provides better speeds than fixed ADSL. MCI offers the widest coverage including rural areas. Irancell delivers faster speeds in cities. Rightel targets premium users with unlimited social media bundles and streaming. Mobile data costs 320,000 tomans for 50 GB monthly. Compare coverage at your specific location using each operator's coverage map.

Budget for VPN service to access blocked websites

VPN is a practical necessity to access blocked websites and services. Budget an additional 100,000 tomans monthly for reliable VPN service. Free VPNs experience frequent blocking. Government throttles VPN traffic periodically, especially during evening hours 7pm-11pm when network congestion peaks. Test your VPN during peak hours before committing to a service.

Be aware that internet access depends on government policy decisions beyond your ISP's control. The June 2025 and January 2026 blackouts shut down access entirely for days or weeks regardless of which provider you pay.

The government confirmed international internet will remain restricted until at least late March 2026 with access only for security-vetted elites. Choose ISPs offering domestic NIN content to maintain some connectivity during future shutdowns, though this means accepting state-controlled platforms over global internet access.

Compare Internet Providers in Iran

The table below shows top providers by connection type and maximum advertised speed.

Provider	Type	Max Speed
Irancell	mobile	1400 Mbps
Shatel	fiber	1000 Mbps
MCI (Hamrah-e Aval)	mobile	500 Mbps
RighTel	mobile	300 Mbps
TCI	fiber	100 Mbps

Test Your Connection Speed

Run a speed test to verify your Iran provider delivers advertised speeds. Test during peak evening hours for the most accurate results.

Internet Providers in Iran

Compare internet speeds across major providers in Iran. Click on a provider to test your connection.

Iran Speed Test FAQ

How do I test my internet speed in Iran?

Click the Start Test button on this page to measure your download speed, upload speed, and ping latency. For accurate results, connect your device directly to your router with an ethernet cable if possible. Close all background applications including Telegram, WhatsApp, and any downloads. Test during different times of day because Iranian networks experience heavy throttling during evening hours between 7pm and 11pm when VPN traffic and international access are often restricted. The test takes about 30 seconds. Compare your result against your plan speed to verify your ISP delivers what you pay for. If you are on ADSL, expect 2-16 Mbps. On fiber, expect 50-100 Mbps. On MCI or Irancell 4G, expect 30-50 Mbps. On 5G in major cities, expect 200-500 Mbps. Be aware that government filtering and throttling affect results beyond your ISP's technical capabilities.

What is the average internet speed in Iran?

Iran's median fixed broadband download speed is 16.21 Mbps with 4.01 Mbps upload according to Ookla Speedtest data from January 2025. Mobile download speeds average 49.63 Mbps with 11.36 Mbps upload and 28 milliseconds latency as 5G deployment accelerated. MCI delivers the fastest mobile speeds at 33.3 Mbps average on 4G. TCI provides the fastest fixed broadband at 38.2 Mbps average, with Tehran reaching 55.7 Mbps. These figures rank Iran 136th globally for fixed internet and 69th for mobile. Most ADSL connections deliver only 2-16 Mbps. Fiber connections in Tehran reach 50-100 Mbps but availability is limited. Speeds vary dramatically by technology, location, and time of day due to government throttling policies. Iran improved 3 positions in both fixed and mobile global rankings during 2024-2025.

Why is internet slow in Iran?

Several factors combine to make Iran's internet among the slower in Asia. International sanctions limit access to modern networking equipment and block investment capital for infrastructure upgrades. The Iranian rial lost over 95% of its value since 2018, starving telecom operators of purchasing power for imported gear. TCI's copper ADSL network dates back decades and was designed for phone service, not broadband. Government control through TIC creates a single national chokepoint where all traffic is filtered, throttled, and monitored. Evening throttling from 7pm-11pm reduces speeds deliberately to manage congestion and limit VPN usage. Fiber deployment aims for 20 million premises but reached only 10 million by March 2024 due to budget constraints. International bandwidth runs through submarine cables in the Persian Gulf but capacity limits create bottlenecks during peak hours. The National Information Network architecture prioritizes domestic traffic over international connectivity through pricing and policy. Periodic government shutdowns like June 2025 and January 2026 demonstrate infrastructure designed for control rather than performance.

Which ISP has the fastest internet in Iran?

For fixed broadband, TCI provides the fastest average speed at 38.2 Mbps across its network, with Tehran reaching 55.7 Mbps. Shatel offers competitive fiber speeds at 50-100 Mbps where infrastructure exists. CBEYOND averages 36.3 Mbps across subscribers. For mobile internet, MCI leads at 33.3 Mbps average on 4G networks. Irancell delivers faster speeds in urban areas with strong 5G coverage reaching 200-500 Mbps. Rightel targets premium users with competitive speeds but smaller coverage area. The fastest approach combines fiber from TCI or Shatel for home use (50-100 Mbps) with 5G mobile from Irancell or MCI in cities (200-500 Mbps). Run a speed test at your location because performance varies widely by neighborhood, time of day, and government throttling policies. All ISPs route through TIC infrastructure, so filtering and shutdowns affect every provider equally regardless of underlying speed capabilities.

Is Starlink available in Iran?

Starlink is officially prohibited in Iran but over 100,000 users access the service illegally as of late 2025. The government passed laws in June 2025 criminalizing Starlink use or import with prison sentences of 6 months to 2 years. If authorities determine the use was for espionage or to confront the Islamic Republic, the punishment is execution. Despite severe penalties, Iranians import Starlink equipment through black market channels and pay $100+ monthly for 50-200 Mbps speeds independent of government infrastructure. Starlink gained prominence during the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests when the government responded with internet blackouts. During the January 2026 shutdown, authorities used military-grade mobile jammers to block Starlink signals and claimed to cut off 40,000 connections. For users willing to accept legal risks, Starlink provides the only internet access that bypasses TIC infrastructure and state filtering. Equipment acquisition and activation require technical knowledge and black market contacts. The service works best in rural areas and locations away from government jamming equipment deployed in major cities during crackdowns.