The latest Iraqi communications news, including developments and opportunities in communications and media from Iraq Business News.
France Telecom-Orange and its partner Agility, a leading logistics company, have announced a binding agreement on Monday with the shareholders of Korek Telecom to acquire a 44% stake in the Iraqi mobile operator. France Telecom-Orange will contribute its marketing, commercial and technical expertise to reinforce Korek Telecom's leading position in the Kurdistan region of Iraq […]
Cordiant Capital, the Montreal based fund manager that specialises in loans to emerging markets, has committed $50 million to fund the expansion of Iraq’s mobile phone network. Mobile penetration in Iraq is estimated at just 77%, lagging far behind most of its neighbouring countries where penetration rates are virtually 100%. The loan is part of […]
In a move to enrich Kufa University's educational and research activities, Kufa University president Dr. Abdul Razzak Al-Issa signed a broadband service agreement with Omnnea. The broadband service will be used to allow both Kufa University faculty and students to conduct research, hold video conferencing and to utilize e-learning curriculum. Dr. Al-Issa stated, "One of […]
Iraqi mobile operator AsiaCell has threatened to sue Kuwait-based telecoms provider Zain, after it allegedly distributed millions of unlicensed SIM cards, hitting AsiaCell's market share. It has also disconnected several million Zain Iraq subscribers whose lines have not been fully licensed by the Communications and Media Commission (CMC). AsiaCell, in which Qatar Telecommunications Co (Qtel) […]
Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has announced significant growth last year in its Iraqi Asiacell operations. Following on from the strong subscriber growth achieved in 2009, Asiacell has continued to increase its subscriber base this year leveraging its country-wide network. Asiacell's total subscriber base at 31 December 2010 stood at 8.1 million (FY 2009: 7.4 million). At […]
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is supporting economic growth and expanded access to telecommunications services in Iraq through a landmark $400 million, seven-year debt facility for Zain Iraq, the country’s largest mobile phone operator. Zain Iraq is a subsidiary of Kuwait-based telecommunications operator Zain Group, a longtime IFC partner. Zain is the […]
The United Nations has prepared a comprehensive Briefing Book on Iraq, and presented it to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The book is comprised of two parts: The first part addresses key policy issues, including: macroeconomic challenges, development planning and prioritization, governance and public sector reform, anti-corruption, private sector development, social protection and the challenges of […]
Reuters reports that Iraq has fined Kuwait-based telecoms provider Zain $262 million for putting 5 million Sim cards in the local market without permission, contravening its licence. The company has three months to pay. Zain's Iraq unit will appeal the fine, its chief executive, Emad Makiya, said. "They have no right to issue such a […]
The Iraqi Communications Ministry has signed a preliminary agreement with the Saudi company STC to link Iraq to Turkey and Saudi Arabia by an optical cable system. Official ministry spokesman Samir Ali Hassoun told AKnews that this initial agreement determines the financial aspects of the deal. The Ministry of Communications has been working for a […]
BMI’s Q1 2011 update on Iraq’s telecommunications market provides comprehensive coverage of recent developments in the country’s mobile, fixed-line telephony and internet sectors. This quarter sees our five-year growth forecasts for the country’s telecoms service sectors extended through to the end of 2015. Our new mobile subscriber forecast for Iraq incorporates the latest subscriber data, […]
By Lisa Knight, Creative Director & Founder of The Brand Foundation. National branding is a vital strategic activity undertaken by governments worldwide, in emerging and established nations, the impact of which goes far beyond tourism -- it has the power to dramatically alter the economic landscape and attract major foreign investment, dramatically impacting the […]
The Iraqi unit of Kuwait's Zain expects to add up to 18,000 new subscribers a month after starting operations in Iraq's northern Kurdish region, Reuters has reported. "I would expect that we will be adding around 15,000 to 18,000 (new subscribers) a month," chief executive Emad Makiya told the news agency, adding that the total […]
