Here’s a concise, up-to-date comparison of Iran’s main mobile networks (useful for residents and visitors). I checked recent sources — key facts are cited after each section.

Summary (short)

• Main operators: MCI (Hamrah-e Aval), MTN Irancell, RighTel. MCI has the largest national coverage; Irancell usually offers the fastest urban data and the most consumer data offers; RighTel is smallest and more limited outside big cities. (capacityglobal.com)

1. Market size & shares

• MCI (Hamrah-e Aval): largest operator and the widest rural footprint. (capacityglobal.com)
• MTN Irancell: second-largest by subscribers, strong urban data network and aggressive 4G/4.5G rollout. (capacityglobal.com)
• RighTel: much smaller market share, niche provider focused on higher‑value data services in major cities. (Medialandscapes.org)

2. Coverage (voice & mobile data)

• MCI: best overall nationwide coverage (strongest in rural and road routes). Good choice if you’ll travel outside cities. (Medialandscapes.org)
• Irancell: excellent city coverage and fastest mobile broadband in many urban areas; coverage outside cities is good but can be weaker than MCI in remote rural spots. (brandradar.org)
• RighTel: adequate in major cities but limited in smaller towns and rural highways. (Medialandscapes.org)

3. Data speeds and 4G/5G

• Typical situation (recent measurements): mobile median download speeds have been notably higher than fixed ADSL; 4G is broadly available and 5G deployments are growing but still limited compared with global leaders. Mobile median download examples from 2023–2024: mobile ~30–40 Mbps in aggregate reports; 5G availability rising but not universal. (ts2.tech)
• Irancell often posts the best mobile broadband speeds in cities; MCI is competitive and strong on coverage; RighTel offers 3G/4G and has worked on 5G trials in some areas. (brandradar.org)

4. Pricing & plans (high-level)

• Irancell tends to be aggressive on data promotions and tourist packages; often the best value for short-term high‑data use in cities. (phonetravelwiz.com)
• MCI may be slightly pricier for some data bundles but gives better rural reliability. (smartsmssolutions.com)
• RighTel’s prices can be higher for comparable data and its footprint is smaller; it targets premium/digital services. (mordorintelligence.com)

5. Tourist / short‑term visitors

• Tourist SIMs: Irancell sells official tourist SIM cards at airports and many kiosks (passport registration required). Tourist SIM options (30-day packages) have been available for years and are convenient for visitors. Some third‑party services also sell pre-registered SIMs for hotel/airport delivery. Expect to show passport for registration. (tehrantimes.com)
• If you’ll be mainly in Tehran/Isfahan/major cities and want max data speed, Irancell tourist SIM is a common choice. If you plan to travel widely around Iran including rural areas and roads, prefer MCI. RighTel only if you need a specific service they offer and will remain in well-covered cities. (brandradar.org)

6. Technical/operational notes & restrictions

• Registration: SIM purchase/activation typically requires ID (passport for tourists). If you plan to stay long-term, phone registration/import-tax rules may apply for devices. (phonetravelwiz.com)
• App ecosystem & censorship: many global services are restricted/filtered in Iran (e.g., some social networks). Local app stores (e.g., Cafe Bazar, Sibche) and local alternatives are commonly used. Expect state filtering and surveillance; many visitors use VPNs/proxies (subject to local rules and risks). (irantourism.travel)
• eSIM: rollout has been limited; historically physical SIMs were standard and tourist eSIM availability has been restricted (some sources in 2024–2025 suggest operator trials and phased rollouts but passport-based tourist eSIMs were limited). Check current operator sites before travel. (visitouriran.com)

Recommendations (practical)

• Best for travelers who want fast urban data + easy tourist SIMs: MTN Irancell (buy at airport kiosk). (phonetravelwiz.com)
• Best for travelers covering rural areas and long drives: MCI (Hamrah-e Aval) because of the widest coverage. (Medialandscapes.org)
• Best for users staying in cities and wanting specific premium packages or bundled digital services: consider RighTel, but check coverage for your exact locations first. (brandradar.org)

If you want, I can:

• Pull current tourist SIM prices and exact airport booth locations (I’ll check live operator pages), or
• Compare a specific city (e.g., Tehran vs. Shiraz vs. rural route) for coverage and estimated speeds.

Notes on sources and currency

• I used recent market and travel/operator sources (industry reports and travel guides from 2023–2025). For fast-changing details (exact promotional prices, eSIM availability, airport booth hours), I can check operators’ official pages or the latest travel‑guide listings if you want live verification. (capacityglobal.com)

Which of the following would you like next: live tourist SIM prices at Tehran airport, detailed city-by-city coverage comparison, or recommended SIM plan for a specific trip length?