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Tehran - Iran is to launch its national version of the internet by the end of August, Communications Minister Reza Taqipour said Monday.

The minister told the official news agency IRNA that the Iranian internet would initially offer 8 megabytes high-speed broadband connections for home users. These would gradually be increased to 20 megabytes per second.

Although the national internet is supposed to increase speed and reduce expensive subscription fees, some critics say the project is primarily aimed at controlling the use of the internet in Iran.

Several internet sites are blocked in Iran, either because of what the officials call 'immoralities,' a reference to pornographic material, or for political reasons.

Searches for sexual terms are blocked, and so are also almost all local opposition websites, several Western newspapers, magazines and social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Iran also plans to introduce its own local search engine by the beginning of 2012. In an apparent reference to Yahoo, the Iranian search engine will be termed 'Ya Haq,' which means Calling God.