Updated November 2026. Iran has three mobile network operators — Hamrah-e Aval (MCI), MTN Irancell and RighTel — plus a handful of smaller virtual operators that resell their capacity. This guide explains who is who, what coverage and speeds to expect, how foreigners and Iranians living abroad get connected, and the phone-registration rules you need to know before you land. It reflects the situation as of November 2026, after a year in which mobile internet was cut for long stretches; we update it every year at this address.
Iran’s mobile networks at a glance
| Operator | Owner | Best known for |
|---|---|---|
| Hamrah-e Aval (MCI) | 90% Telecommunication Company of Iran; 10% listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange | Iran’s first and largest network; widest coverage |
| MTN Irancell | MTN Group 49%; Kowsar Sign Paniz 51% | Second-largest network; first to launch 4G; strong on data and home internet |
| RighTel | Investment arm of the Social Security Organization | Iran’s first 3G operator; small share of the market |
Hamrah-e Aval (MCI)
The Mobile Telecommunication Company of Iran, trading as Hamrah-e Aval, is Iran’s first and largest mobile operator. The state-owned Telecommunication Company of Iran holds 90% of its shares and the rest trade on the Tehran Stock Exchange; it reported more than 43 million subscribers in 2023. MCI launched 3G and 4G services in 2015. It is the network to choose if you will travel outside the big cities. MCI also owns Rubika, one of the domestic “super-apps” (see our social media in Iran guide).
MTN Irancell
Irancell is the second-largest operator. South Africa’s MTN Group holds 49% and Kowsar Sign Paniz holds 51%. It launched Iran’s first 4G (LTE) service on 3 December 2014 and reported about 66 million active SIM subscriptions in 2023, roughly 16% of them in Tehran. Irancell has a full English-language presence: its English website lists prepaid and postpaid SIMs, eSIM, fibre and TD-LTE home internet, modems, and the MyIrancell app. Irancell has historically had a sales desk in the arrivals hall at Imam Khomeini Airport — see our guide to getting from Imam Khomeini Airport into Tehran.
RighTel
RighTel was set up in 2011 by the Social Security Organization and was Iran’s first 3G operator. It holds around 5% of mobile subscribers. Its own 4G network covers only a handful of large cities (including Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Shiraz and Mashhad); elsewhere its customers roam on MCI or Irancell.
Virtual operators (MVNOs)
Mobile virtual network operators sell their own SIMs but run on another operator’s network. The best established is Shatel Mobile, the mobile arm of the internet provider Shatel, which uses the 0998 prefix and advertises nationwide 3G and 4G coverage and data rollover. Registration with the smaller MVNOs is generally in Persian, so foreigners will usually find it easier to go with one of the three main networks. Our 2023 edition also listed SamanTel and LotusTel; we could not confirm their current offers for this update.
Coverage, 4G and 5G
All three operators provide 3G and 4G across Tehran and the other large cities, and MCI has the widest rural footprint. 5G is still limited to selected sites: Irancell reported about 300 5G-enabled towers in 2023 and now promotes Babol as Iran’s first fully 5G city. Treat 5G as a bonus rather than something to plan around.
Speeds and reliability in 2026 have depended less on the radio network than on government restrictions. Mobile internet access to the global internet was cut for about three weeks in January 2026 and for 88 days from the start of the war on 28 February. When access began returning on 26 May, fixed lines came back first and mobile followed a few hours later. Domestic services hosted inside Iran — banking, ride-hailing, shopping and the local messengers — kept working through the national network. As of autumn 2026, Filterwatch reports that international traffic is still below its pre-January level, and that circumvention tools often work on one operator but not on another (Filterwatch, October 2026).
Operators sell domestic and international data at different rates. Since 2017, regulator rules have split traffic into “domestic” and “international” tiers, with much cheaper rates for approved domestic services. During the 2026 shutdowns, operators also sold “Internet Pro” packages offering less restricted access to approved professions and businesses at about three times the price of a normal package. MCI removed its Internet Pro page after access was restored in late May, but Filterwatch reported that some users could still buy it.
Getting a SIM card as a foreigner or tourist
Foreigners can buy a prepaid SIM from any of the three operators with a passport. In practice:
- Where: operator booths at the main airports (usually in the arrivals hall), official operator shops, and many convenience stores in tourist areas (irun2iran, updated November 2025).
- What to bring: your passport. You may also be asked for an address and contact details in Iran.
- Registration: the seller normally registers the SIM to your passport on the spot. If not, a first call or USSD code activates it in your name.
- Validity: prepaid SIMs are typically valid for 30 days at a time and are extended by topping up.
- English menus: dial *555*4*3*2# on Irancell or *198*2# on MCI to switch service menus to English; *1# and *780# give access to top-ups and data packages.
In 2023 the government discussed a special “tourist SIM” with less filtered internet for foreign visitors. According to Filterwatch, the deputy tourism minister said in September 2023 that the plan had the backing of the filtering committee, but we have found no reliable confirmation that such SIMs are on general sale in 2026. Assume that an Iranian SIM, tourist or otherwise, comes with the same filtering as everyone else’s.
International payment cards do not work in Iran because of sanctions, so bring cash for the SIM and top-ups, or use an Iranian tourist debit card.
Bringing a phone: the registry (Hamta) rules
Since late 2017, Iran’s national mobile registry has required phones bought abroad to be registered before they can be used long-term on Iranian networks. The registry is run through the Hamta system (hamtainfo.ntsw.ir).
Visitors and foreign residents
- An unregistered phone works normally for 30 days from the moment you first insert an Iranian SIM. After that, calls, texts and mobile data stop, though Wi-Fi still works (Surfiran; VisitOurIran, updated October 2026).
- The 30 days do not reset if you leave and come back.
- To register, you need the 15-digit IMEI, an Iranian SIM bought with your passport, your passport number and visa details. You then pay a customs charge based on the model.
- Each person can register one phone per year.
- Registration does not affect how the phone works outside Iran.
Iranians arriving from abroad
Iranian passport holders register a phone they bring in through customs’ passenger procedure (raviye-ye mosaferi), paying duty based on customs’ valuation of the model. The main change of the past two years is that newer iPhones can now be registered. Iran stopped registering iPhone 14 and later models in 2023, then lifted that ban in October 2024 for the iPhone 14, 15 and 16. In January 2025 the cabinet removed all remaining restrictions on registering imported phones, subject to registering the device and paying customs duty. Duty rates and passenger allowances change often. Check with customs or the Hamta system before you fly with an expensive handset.
Motorola phones were banned from import and sale in 2024, so a Motorola device brought from abroad may not register.
Prices
Mobile data in Iran is cheap by international standards in dollar terms, but prices rise regularly. MCI and Irancell raised data package prices by an average of 20% from 2 December 2025, and RighTel followed a day later. That came after a 34% increase in January 2024. Packages change weekly and differ between operators, so we track them on our mobile tariffs page. As of 3 November 2026 that page uses a free-market rate of about 275,000 tomans to the US dollar. All dollar figures on this site are approximate.
If you need a new handset locally, compare prices on our mobile phone prices tracker. A phone bought in Iran from an official seller is already registered.
Which network should you choose?
- Travelling widely, including rural areas: MCI, for coverage.
- Mostly in Tehran and big cities, heavy data use: Irancell, which also has an English website and app.
- Back-up SIM: carrying SIMs from two operators helps, because restrictions and outages in 2026 have not always hit every network equally.
Frequently asked questions
Can a tourist buy a SIM card in Iran?
Yes. Any of the three main operators will sell a prepaid SIM to a foreigner who shows a passport, at airport booths, operator shops or many convenience stores. The SIM is registered to your passport.
Will my foreign phone work in Iran?
Yes, for 30 days after you first insert an Iranian SIM. Stay longer and you will need to register it in the Hamta system and pay a customs charge, or use it on Wi-Fi only.
Does international roaming work in Iran?
It depends on your home operator. Ask them before you travel, because coverage and charges for Iran vary. For a stay of more than a few days, a local SIM is usually the practical option.
Is there 5G in Iran?
Only in places. Irancell and MCI run 5G sites in some cities, and Irancell describes Babol as Iran’s first fully 5G city, but 4G is what most users rely on.
Is mobile internet filtered?
Yes. Mobile internet is subject to the same filtering as fixed lines, and in 2026 it was shut off entirely for long periods. See our social media in Iran and WhatsApp in Iran guides for which services work.
Can I register an iPhone 15 or 16 in Iran?
Yes. Since late 2024 newer iPhones can be registered, and from January 2025 the government says all imported smartphones can be registered once customs duty is paid.
How do I top up?
Top up with scratch cards from shops, at operator stores, by USSD codes (*780# or *1#), or through the MyIrancell and My MCI apps. In-app payment needs an Iranian bank card.
Learn the Persian: Our free phone, bank and everyday admin phrasebook gives you the Persian for SIM cards, top-ups, bills and bank cards.
