MTCE Operates Credit SIM Cards for Cellular Phone Network in Esfahan Province The pilot plan of using credit SIM Cards for operating cellular phones in Esfahan Province is underway by Mobile Telecommunications Company of Esfahan (MTCE). According to Engineer Sajjadi, the managing director of MTCE, Mobile Telecommunications Company of Esfahan which has been established in 1999 at the agreement signed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and Malaysia in partnership with Iran Distant Call Telecommunications Industries Co. and Malaysian Technology Resources Industries Co., has received required certificates from the Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephone (P.T.T) and singed contracts to link to the network and exchange subscribers with the Telecommunications Company of Iran and the Telecommunications Company of Esfahan Province. It has started work as the first non-governmental company in the field of mobile phone services. The company, as part of the pilot project, has offered a limited number of credit SIM Cards of the cellular phones which is the first experience in its kind in the country. The tentative project will last between 2-6 months after which the system will be officially operational. The SIM Cards presented by this company are valid for some time. When the credit is expired, the cards will be inactive automatically. Each SIM Card is valid for two months with at least 300,000 rials worth of credit. "The rates will be according to the tariffs of the Telecommunications Company of Iran, and the SIM Cards have specific telephone number with possibility of dual contacts plus some free services such as call divert, display, etc." He added: "Unlike the permanent SIM Cards that will be offered in the near future, these credit SIM Cards will be usable in the limits covered by Mobile Telecommunications Company of Esfahan." Eng. Sajjadi said the plan had cost 20 million dollars adding: "Some 10 million dollars of the costs have been paid by Telecommunications Company of Esfahan and the other half was met by the Malaysian company." According to him, the center is capable of operating 20,000 credit SIM Cards that will be expandable to 35,000 numbers. In connection with expanding the system to other provinces, Engineer Sajjadi said: "Presently the system is active in Esfahan Province only, but according to the Third Socioeconomic and Cultural Development Plan of the country the Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephone is formulating the scheme for expansion of the service to other provinces. "This is going to open up a bright horizon for investment of private sector in telecommunications sector."