1.2 Geographic Dispersion

Geographic Dispersion describes the physical dispersion of the Internet within a country, there being benefits to having multiple points-of-presence, redundant transmission paths, and multiple international access points. Internet development in a country (e.g. Iran) typically starts with a single provider (e.g. IPM) and site in the capital (Tehran) or largest population center, from which the infrastructure spreads out as the user population grows and becomes more diversified. A mature Internet network will feature an infrastructure distribution that is proportional to the population. We summarize the characteristics used to evaluate geographic dispersion below:

• Level 0: Non-existent - The Internet does not exist in a viable form in this country. No computers with international IP connections are located within the country.

• Level 1: Single Location - Internet points-of-presence are confined to one major population center.

• Level 2: Moderately Dispersed - Internet points-of-presence are located in at least half of the first-tier political sub-divisions of the country.

• Level 3: Highly Dispersed - Internet points-of-presence are located in at least three-quarters of the first-tier political sub-divisions of the country.

• Level 4: Nationwide - Internet points-of-presence are located in all first-tier political sub-divisions of the country. Rural access is publicly and commonly available.

In Iran, while Internet connectivity and related activity continue to be concentrated in Tehran, full-time network access in one form or another is available in most, but not all, other major cities (provincial capitals). This gives Iran a Geographic Dispersion dimension of 2 - moderately dispersed. Rural dispersion is practically non-existent and via long-distance dialups to major centers only.