The latest Iraqi communications news, including developments and opportunities in communications and media from Iraq Business News.
By John Lee. A draft regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI) services in Iraq has been opened for public consultation. The Communications and Media Commission (CMC) announced the move, inviting stakeholders to submit comments within 30 days from 23 September 2026. The draft aims to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for AI services operating in […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has published a draft regulatory framework for licensing telecommunications services on non-terrestrial networks, including in-flight connectivity (air-to-ground, A2G), and opened it for public consultation. The draft aims to establish technical and regulatory standards for such services, covering efficient use of radio spectrum and compliance with approved […]
By John Lee. Plans to develop a national artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in Iraq have been discussed by the Communications and Media Commission (CMC) and an adviser to the Prime Minister. According to the CMC, Baligh Abu Kalal, head of the CMC, met with Dr Diya Al-Jumaili, adviser to the Prime Minister for AI affairs, […]
By John Lee. A transit cable agreement has been signed to route telecommunications capacity from the Gulf to Europe via Iraq. The deal was concluded between the General Company for Telecommunications and Informatics and Asiacell's parent, Qatar's Ooredoo Group, under the auspices of Communications Minister Mustafa Jabbar Sanad. The agreement enables the transit of data […]
By John Lee. Egypt and Iraq have held ministerial talks on expanding cooperation in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and telecommunications infrastructure. The meeting was attended by Ahmed Khafaji, Egypt's ambassador to Baghdad, and Dr Qahtan al-Janabi, Iraq's ambassador to Cairo and permanent representative to the Arab League. Iraq's Minister of Communications, Mustafa Jabbar Sanad, met […]
By John Lee. A second global satellite communications provider is in negotiations to obtain a licence to operate in Iraq, which would introduce direct competition to Starlink in the market. Baligh Abu Kalal (pictured), head of Iraq's Communications and Media Commission (CMC), told the Baghdad Dialogue Conference that around 40,000 Starlink devices were in use in […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Communications and Media Commission (CMC) and Zain Iraq have launched a six-month training partnership focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and its practical applications, aimed at embedding AI use within the CMC and developing staff capabilities. According to the CMC, the programme is being delivered in collaboration with Irada Foundation and Kapita […]
By Mohammed Al-Zubaidi, for Middle East Online. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Internet from the Sky: What Does Starlink Mean for Iraq? When someone connects to the internet in Baghdad, Basra or Erbil, it is natural to imagine that the […]
By John Lee. US tech giant Apple has been officially registered as an accredited digital platform provider in Iraq, following completion of all requirements under the country's regulatory framework for digital platforms and services. According to the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), the accreditation covers Apple's App Store, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple Arcade, and Apple […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and the Communications and Media Commission (CMC) have held talks on regulating digital payment services and developing the legislative framework for Iraq's digital economy. According to the CBI, Governor Nizar Nasser Hussein met the Commission's executive head, Balig Abu Kallal, to discuss a range of issues, […]
By John Lee. A strategic partnership to advance data centre standards and digital infrastructure in Iraq has been announced by US-based Uptime Institute and Iraq's T964 [Tech 964]. The agreement appoints T964 as Uptime Institute's business partner in Iraq, with a focus on data centre standards, professional capacity building, and operational excellence. The partnership was […]
By John Lee. Starlink has been granted an official licence to operate in Iraq. The licence was signed at a ceremony held at the American Chamber of Commerce in the United States, in the presence of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. According to Iraq's Communications and Media Commission (CMC), the licence was signed by the commission's […]
