Archive | Iraqi Communications News

The latest Iraqi communications news, including developments and opportunities in communications and media from Iraq Business News.

Iran, Iraq to Cooperate on Telecoms

By John Lee. Iran and Iraq have reportedly agreed to reduce mobile phone roaming charges, and to cooperate more closely on other issues relating to telecommunications. The development follows a visit by Iraqi Minister of Communications, Hassan Kadhim Al-Rashed [Kazem Hassan Rashed], to Tehran to meet Iran’s Communications and Information Technology Minister, Mahmoud Vaezi. Minister […]

Zain Iraq Launches "3.9G" Services

By John Lee. Zain Group has announces that its mobile operation in Iraq launched 3.9G voice and data services across the country on January 1, 2015. The launch came following the finalization of an agreement with Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission (CMC) on November 10, 2014, which culminated in Zain Iraq making an initial 25% […]

Asiacell Launches 3G Service

By John Lee. Asiacell has announced the launch of its third generation (3G) mobile phone services in Iraq. “Iraq has been underserved for far too long, it’s time to bring 21st century wireless service to this important economic hub in the world,” said Faruk Mustafa Rasool (pictured), Asiacell chairman. Asiacell has spent more than $1bn […]

PM Drops Lawsuits Against Journalists

By John Lee. Prime Minister Haider al- Abadi has ordered the dropping of all publishing lawsuits previously filed by his office against journalists and reporters. In a statement, his office said: "This order comes out of the Prime Minister's commitment to freedom of expression and support to the press as being the fourth power, which […]

Mosul Extremists Raid Homes, Arrest Journalists

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Stifling Dissent: Extremists in Mosul Raid Homes, Arrest Journalists Instead of reporting the news from inside the extremist-controlled city of Mosul, local journalists recently became the subject of news reports. […]

Why Mosul Extremists have Blocked All Telecoms

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Communication Shut Down: Why Extremists In Mosul Have Blocked All Telecommunications The extremist group controlling Mosul in northern Iraq has decided to shut down most mobile telecommunications inside the city. […]

IS Cuts off Mobile Network in Mosul

By John Lee. Islamic State militants have reportedly blocked all mobile phone networks in Mosul. According to BasNews, an official at one of the mobile phone operators said his company was investigating the issue, but declined to give further details. According to reports, shutting down of phone lines is a notable change from what has […]

Zain to Launch 3G by Jan

By John Lee. Zain Iraq is to launch its 3G mobile phone services in January. Reuters reports that Zain, along with rivals Asiacell and Korek, eventually agreed to the government’s terms and formally signed the contracts at a ceremony in Baghdad on Monday attended by prime minister Haider al-Abadi. Zain Iraq recently paid the first […]

Iraq’s Media Cold War

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq’s Media Cold War: Why Arabs Don’t Understand Kurds, And Vice Versa Although it has quite possibly never been more important, the potential for conflict and misunderstanding between Iraq’s Arab […]

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Telcos Agree to Pay $307m for 3G

By John Lee. Reuters reports that Iraq’s mobile phone companies have agreed to demands from the country's Communications and Media Commission (CMC) to pay $307 million each for radio spectrum to run 3G mobile phone networks. Current 2G services are supplied by Zain Iraq (a unit of Kuwait’s Zain), Asiacell (a subsidiary of Ooredoo) and Orange […]

Asiacell Revenues Down 10%

By John Lee. In its results for the first nine months of 2014, Qatari telecom provider Ooredoo has reported that revenues at its Iraqi unit Asiacell are down 10 percent. The company gave the following update on operations in Iraq: "Asiacell continued to face the challenge of political and social instability during the period, allied […]