Introduction: In today’s competitive global economy, countries increasingly focus not only on exporting goods but also on developing and exporting technical and engineering services as strategic drivers of national economic growth. The telecommunications industry, due to its technological, capital-intensive, and networked nature, plays a pivotal role in enhancing countries’ international competitiveness. Despite Iran’s considerable human resources and technological capacities in telecommunications, the country’s share in global exports of technical and engineering services remains limited. Therefore, the present study aims to develop a structured multi-level model to explain and analyze the competitiveness of technical and engineering service exports in Iran’s telecommunications sector. Specifically, the study seeks to identify the key antecedents, mechanisms, and competitive advantages that contribute to export competitiveness and to propose a structured framework for sustainable performance in global markets.

Methods: This research employed a mixed-methods exploratory–explanatory sequential design. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 experts from academia and the telecommunications industry, all of whom held at least a master’s degree and had over 10 years of professional experience. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis through a three-stage coding process (open, axial, and selective coding) with MAXQDA software. This phase aimed to identify the key dimensions and components of export competitiveness. In the quantitative phase, a set of 15 experts completed questionnaires based on the extracted factors to finalize their relevance and evaluate causal relationships. Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), MICMAC analysis, and DEMATEL were employed to determine the hierarchical structure, interdependencies, and causal relationships among factors, with quantitative analyses performed using R software.

Finding: The qualitative analysis revealed 136 initial codes, which were refined into 14 axial codes and 4 main themes: antecedents, mechanisms, competitive advantages, and outcomes. Antecedents include government policies, external environment and market conditions, and human capital and knowledge. Mechanisms involve networking and collaboration, innovation and technology, management and organization, and infrastructure. Competitive advantages emerge in human capital, knowledge and experience, products and services, and market and brand positioning. The outcomes are reflected in export marketing performance, national industry enhancement, and long-term sustainability and growth. Quantitative modeling using ISM demonstrated a four-level hierarchical causal system where antecedents drive mechanisms that lead to competitive advantages, ultimately resulting in the desired outcomes. MICMAC analysis classified factors based on driving power and dependence, confirming the central role of government policies, human capital, and innovation. DEMATEL results highlighted the strong influence of antecedent factors on both mechanisms and competitive advantages, illustrating the interdependent and systemic nature of export competitiveness.

Conclusions: This study presents a structured, multi-level framework for understanding and enhancing the competitiveness of technical and engineering service exports in the telecommunications industry. The findings suggest that export success depends not only on available resources but also on effective policy frameworks, strategic networking, innovation, and organizational capabilities. Practically, the model can guide policymakers and industry managers in prioritizing interventions, developing training programs, fostering international collaborations, and optimizing resource allocation to improve export performance. This structured framework offers a pathway for sustainable growth and international positioning, ensuring that Iran’s telecommunications sector can capitalize on global market opportunities while strengthening domestic industrial capabilities.