The Iranian government will spend more than $23.8 billion to develop and enhance the national data network and make 4G Internet available throughout the nation, said the minister of information and communications technology on Saturday.

Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi added the private sector has spent $4.52 billion on upgrading the national data network, but the government will invest $23.8 billion on setting up a modern national data network to produce 4G Internet nationally, IRNA reported.

He said the government has allocated the budget for the purpose.

The minister noted that the country’s goal is to have five million Internet TV subscribers, an economic field which provides a huge opportunity for development.

Giving the assurance that the infrastructure of the national data network will be developed before summer, he said the country’s passive defense infrastructure is of great importance, too.

“A huge center will be inaugurated in [the northwestern city of] Tabriz. In addition, the main data center will be launched by mid-summer in Tehran.”