Iran is reported to be developing its own version of Google Earth which will will feature 3D maps.
According to the Guardian, Iran’s minister for information and communications technology, Mohammad Hassan Nami has announced that the country will launch an "Islamic Google Earth" to be called Basir within the next four months.
Nami was quoted by the semi-official Mehr news agency as saying that, "Preparations have been made for launching our world’s 3D map project and we are currently creating an appropriate data centre which could be capable of processing this volume of information."
"We are doing our best to launch the Islamic Google Earth in the next four months as an Islamic republic’s national portal, providing service on a global scale," he added.
"On the surface, Google Earth is providing a service to users, but in reality security and intelligence organisations are behind it in order to obtain information from other countries."
Earlier this year, Iranian authorities have blocked the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) used to get around the country’s extensive Internet filters.
Last year, Iran launched its own video network, which was meant to offer a government approved alternative to YouTube.
