CompaniesIrancell

Irancell

TelecomMTN GroupIndex constituent
Entity IDIR-CO-2158
SectorTelecom
Founded2005
HQTehran
VerificationCorroborated

Iran's second largest mobile network operator (2G-5G) by subscribers and a fixed-wireless internet provider; a joint venture between MTN Group (49%) and Kowsar Sign Paniz (51%). About 56 million subscribers and about 43 percent market share (2025).

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Decision snapshot
Founded
2005, license granted 1384/09/06 (27 Nov 2005)
2005Official record
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27
Legal form
Private JSC (سهامی خاص), not publicly listed
CurrentOfficial record
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27

Every field carries an explicit evidence state and its source. Self-reported figures are labelled as such; nothing is presented with more certainty than its source supports.

Operating metrics, period-stamped
Active subscribersEnd-2024-25Third-party reported
69M+
4G network coverageCurrentThird-party reported
85% of population
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27All cities covered
5G network coverage2023-24Third-party reported
50% of cities
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27
Employee growth2020-21Third-party reported
+11%
Digiato (Irancell 1399 report) · retrieved 2026-07-27Majority of staff hold a Bachelor's degree or higher
Business model & group
Core productsCurrentThird-party reported
Mobile network (2G-5G), TD-LTE fixed internet, fiber optic (Tanooma), VoLTE, IoT, "Irancell Man" super-app, SIM cards, modems
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27Second-largest mobile operator in Iran
Leadership
CEOCurrent, as of 2025-26Third-party reported
Mohammad Hossein Soleimanian (محمد حسین سلیمانیان)
ISNA · retrieved 2026-07-27Appointed 1404
Previous CEOsHistoricalThird-party reported
Bijan Abbasi Arend (13 years); Alireza Rafiei (briefly, Dey 2024-25)
Way2Pay / Irancell.ir · retrieved 2026-07-27Multiple leadership transitions across 1403 to 1404
Ownership & capital
ShareholdersCurrentThird-party reported
Iran Electronic Development Company (شرکت گسترش الکترونیک ایران) 51% / MTN Group (South Africa) 49%
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27MTN reportedly in process of exiting the Iran market
Investments heldCurrentThird-party reported
Snapp (investor), Rubika (shareholder)
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27Via the Iran Internet Group / MTN Irancell structure
Competitive set
DirectCurrentThird-party reported
MCI / Hamrah-e Aval, RighTel
Market observation · retrieved 2026-07-27TCI (via subsidiary MCI) is the dominant fixed-line + mobile rival
What we don't know
Not disclosedNot disclosed
Irancell published one financial report (1399); no subsequent public report found

Stated gaps are part of the record: in an opaque market, knowing what is NOT publicly established is as decision-relevant as what is.

Source ledger, every field, its evidence
FoundedOfficial record2005
2005, license granted 1384/09/06 (27 Nov 2005)
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27retrieved 2026-07-27
Legal formOfficial recordCurrent
Private JSC (سهامی خاص), not publicly listed
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27retrieved 2026-07-27
CEOThird-party reportedCurrent, as of 2025-26
Mohammad Hossein Soleimanian (محمد حسین سلیمانیان)
ISNA · retrieved 2026-07-27retrieved 2026-07-27
Previous CEOsThird-party reportedHistorical
Bijan Abbasi Arend (13 years); Alireza Rafiei (briefly, Dey 2024-25)
Way2Pay / Irancell.ir · retrieved 2026-07-27retrieved 2026-07-27
Core productsThird-party reportedCurrent
Mobile network (2G-5G), TD-LTE fixed internet, fiber optic (Tanooma), VoLTE, IoT, "Irancell Man" super-app, SIM cards, modems
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27retrieved 2026-07-27
Active subscribersThird-party reportedEnd-2024-25
69M+
Persian Wikipedia, citing Communications Regulatory Authority · retrieved 2026-07-27retrieved 2026-07-27
4G network coverageThird-party reportedCurrent
85% of population
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27retrieved 2026-07-27
5G network coverageThird-party reported2023-24
50% of cities
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27retrieved 2026-07-27
Employee growthThird-party reported2020-21
+11%
Digiato (Irancell 1399 report) · retrieved 2026-07-27retrieved 2026-07-27
DirectThird-party reportedCurrent
MCI / Hamrah-e Aval, RighTel
Market observation · retrieved 2026-07-27retrieved 2026-07-27
ShareholdersThird-party reportedCurrent
Iran Electronic Development Company (شرکت گسترش الکترونیک ایران) 51% / MTN Group (South Africa) 49%
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27retrieved 2026-07-27
Investments heldThird-party reportedCurrent
Snapp (investor), Rubika (shareholder)
Persian Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-27retrieved 2026-07-27
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Registered entity
OwnershipMTN Group 49% · Kowsar Sign Paniz 51%
Entity notesCORRECTED 2026-08-18: this row and hamrah-e-aval BOTH described themselves as "Iran's largest mobile network operator", which cannot both be true and was visible on two live pages. Hamrah-e Aval reported an active base above 81 million connections for the nine months to December 2024; Irancell reports about 56 million. Irancell is second by subscribers. Caught while correcting the register in the Harkat Aval insight.
Evidence & verification
Verification tierCorroborated, two or more independent sources
Primary evidenceen.wikipedia.org
Registry identifiersWithheld for compliance

Fields on this profile derive from linked public sources or the official company registry; unknown values stay blank rather than guessed, and estimates are always labelled. How we verify →

Quick facts
Tehran, Iran
Founded 2005
irancell.irLinkedIn
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