Here’s a concise, sourced overview of mobile network service quality in Iran (coverage, speeds, reliability, and major non-technical factors that affect user experience).

Key operators and market structure

• Main operators: MCI (Hamrah‑e Avval) — largest; MTN Irancell — large market share and the biggest data operator; RighTel — smaller third operator. There are also MVNOs and regional/specialty providers (e.g., Taliya). These three dominate coverage and service offerings. (en.Wikipedia.org)

Coverage and technologies

• 2G/3G/4G: Nationwide 2G/3G/4G LTE coverage in major cities and many towns. MCI and Irancell provide the widest geographic coverage; rural coverage lags behind urban areas. (medialandscapes.org)
• 5G: Commercial 5G services were launched (initially in Tehran) by Irancell in early 2021 and limited 5G deployments and trials have continued since, but 5G availability remains concentrated in major urban areas rather than nationwide. (599046384.r.worldcdn.net)

Measured speeds and global ranking

• Reported median mobile speeds have varied month-to-month, but Speedtest/Ookla data in recent years shows Iran scoring in the middle tier globally (mobile median download speeds often tens of Mbps, with occasional months showing higher medians depending on measurement periods). Exact rankings and medians change frequently. (Example Speedtest Global Index snapshots show Iran in mid‑range positions). (Moonfix.ir)

Reliability, throttling, and shutdowns

• Network reliability is strongly affected by government actions: Iran has a recent history of deliberate throttling and local or nationwide mobile internet shutdowns during protests or security events. These actions can produce sudden severe drops in connectivity or complete loss of mobile-data access for hours to days. Freedom House, Cloudflare/other analyses, and news reporting document repeated localized and national shutdowns during major unrest (notably 2019, 2022, and other episodes). (ecoi.net)
• Because of repeated censorship and blocking of international apps, many users routinely rely on VPNs and other circumvention tools; that usage — and periodic blocking of VPN apps — also affects perceived service quality and speed. (TechRadar.com)

Other factors affecting mobile service quality

• Economic and sanctions-related constraints: import restrictions, sanctions and limited access to some vendor equipment/software can slow infrastructure upgrades and spare‑parts replacement, which can affect long‑term network expansion and modernisation.
• Urban vs rural gap: big difference between major cities (good LTE / sometimes 5G speeds) and smaller towns/villages (much weaker data speeds or even only 2G/3G).
• Event-driven congestion: large public events, pilgrimage routes, tourist spots, and highways can experience congestion and lower speeds if traffic spikes exceed local capacity.

What this means for users / businesses

• Average urban users in big cities can expect usable LTE speeds for web, streaming and many business apps; 5G may be available in selected areas. However, expect variability — occasional throttling, blocked services, and the risk of shutdowns during political/security events.
• For mission‑critical services (financial systems, emergency comms, remote work), do not rely solely on mobile networks without contingency plans (redundant links, local caching, offline modes), because government-imposed cuts can be abrupt and long.
• Remote/rural deployments need careful planning: coverage maps and local field tests are essential; fixed‑wire alternatives are often limited.

If you want, I can:

• Pull the latest national mobile median speeds and current Speedtest Global Index ranking (specific month/year) and give a short chart of recent months; or
• Compare the three operators (pricing, coverage maps, SIM/tourist options) for a specific Iranian city or route.

(Selected sources: Ookla/Speedtest Global Index for speed/rank snapshots; Freedom House/USIP and reporting on throttling and shutdowns; Reuters and technology press on policy/censorship; operator profiles for MCI/Irancell/RighTel.) (Moonfix.ir)