WANA (Aug 09) – Iranian Minister of Communications Sattar Hashemi addressed the extent of damage inflicted on the nation’s space infrastructure during recent military hostilities, while outlining a strategic shift toward an application-driven, commercial space industry centered on a 24-satellite constellation.

 

Infrastructure Damage and Academic Partnerships

Hashemi confirmed that several key space facilities were hit during the conflict, including the Iranian Space Research Center’s central complex on the Sheikh Fazlollah Nouri Expressway in Tehran, provincial research institutes, and satellite ground stations in Salmas and Qeshm.

 

Expressing relief that no casualties occurred, Hashemi stressed that specialized human resources remain the industry’s most critical asset. He stated that primary personnel have already been relocated to new facilities to prevent project delays, emphasizing that universities will drive technology development while the Iranian Space Research Center serves as the central steering body.

 

Transition to Application-Driven Models and Rural Connectivity

Under a new operational strategy, government resources are being directed toward solving tangible domestic challenges. Hashemi highlighted legal mandates within the Seventh National Development Plan (Article 65) requiring high-speed connectivity for all rural villages with populations exceeding 20 households.

 

Because ground infrastructure is cost-prohibitive in remote and difficult terrain, the ministry is allocating telecommunications funding directly toward space-based satellite coverage to bridge the digital divide.

 

Cross-Sector Resource Management and Economic Restructuring

The Minister detailed ongoing inter-departmental initiatives aimed at resource management and infrastructure oversight:

 

Natural Resource and Water Management: Collaborative agreements have been established with the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade (MIMT) to attract private investment for monitoring bodies of water and natural reserves.

 

Land Usage and Judicial Support: Joint initiatives with the Iranian Judiciary are underway to utilize remote-sensing satellites for land management, aimed at reducing property disputes and legal claims.

 

Economic Transition: The space sector is undergoing a structural shift from a traditional Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) framework to a Doing, Using, and Interacting (DUI) economic model, where end-use applications generate self-sustaining market revenue.

 

The ‘Shahid Soleimani’ Satellite Constellation

The centerpiece of Iran’s updated space roadmap is the “Shahid Soleimani” satellite constellation, a pragmatic Low Earth Orbit (LEO) project comprising 18 operational satellites and 6 orbital spares. Hashemi expressed optimism that the first three satellites of the constellation will be placed into orbit via a single launch before the end of the current Iranian calendar year.

 

Explaining the technical rationale, Hashemi noted that while Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers offer stable coverage, they suffer from high latency. Conversely, LEO constellations at an altitude of 500 kilometers deliver low latency and higher signal quality, making multi-satellite constellations essential for continuous regional coverage.

 

Hashemi concluded by noting that international telecom partners are recognizing this technological shift. He revealed that MTN Group—a major foreign partner in domestic telecom operator Irancell—recently commissioned an internal strategic report advising substantial investment in satellite constellations, characterizing LEO networks as direct competitors to traditional terrestrial and mobile infrastructure.