The latest Iraq Telecommunications News – mobile phones, Iraqi Communications and more – brought to you by Iraq Business News
By John Lee. On Tuesday (7th January), iQ Networks, a subsidiary of Sulaymaniya's iQ Group, signed Iraq's inaugural dark fibre IRU framework agreement with Qatar-based Gulf Bridge International (GBI) in Baghdad. According to a statement from iQ, this landmark deal is a pivotal move towards establishing Iraq as an essential telecommunications hub. The event also […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Communications has signed an agreement with UK's Vodafone to establish a new 5G telecommunications network fully owned by Iraq. The agreement outlines Vodafone's role in preparing the network for launch, providing expertise in network design, commercial strategies, and business growth planning. A memorandum of understanding was also signed […]
By Dana Taib Menmy for The New Arab. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Behind closed doors?: Iraq's Vodafone 5G deal raises concerns on transparency A Vodafone spokesperson told The New Arab talks are ongoing with Iraq's government on a consultancy for […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Communications, Dr. Hayam Al-Yasiri, announced the Cabinet's approval of British multinational Vodafone as the operator for the national 5G mobile licence. The decision follows recommendations from the Ministry's negotiation team. The Ministry will formally notify Vodafone to begin negotiations on a memorandum of understanding, outlining preparatory steps for project […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi government has assigned a team led by the Minister of Communications to negotiate with leading global telecom operators to launch a 5G mobile telecommunications service. The team will focus on selecting a company with proven expertise in building, operating, and managing 5G networks. Companies with experience in the Middle East […]
By John Lee. Sulaymaniyah-based iQ Networks and Nokia have announced their collaboration to establish a new Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) wholesale route from the Gulf to Europe. According to a press release: "This strategic route will provide new fiber optic paths, significantly enhancing both latency and diversity while enhancing the capacity and strengthening the […]
By John Lee. Iraq has increased the rate at which it is installing fiber-optic internet connections. The Ministry of Communications reports that more than 3.5 million FTTH (fiber-to-the-home) connections have been complete so far in 2024. This compares to 2.9 million last year, 1.5 million in 2022, and 276,000 in 2021. (Source: Ministry of Communications)
By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Communications, Dr. Hayam Al-Yasiri, announced that Iraq's international telecom transit capacity has increased to "1400G" [presumably 1,400 gigabits per second (Gbps) of bandwidth capacity] by mid-2024. This represents a significant increase on the 10G in previous years. According to a Ministry statement, this generated a revenue of $1.8 million […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Communications, Dr. Hayam Al-Yasiri, announced progress on implementing the national 5G mobile license project. During a meeting with the project's steering committee, the ministry reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the project despite regional security challenges. The initiative, approved by the Cabinet, grants the Ministry of Communications the authority to […]
By John Lee. Nokia today announced a strategic partnership with Zain Iraq to upgrade the telecom operator's network in the south of Iraq. The three-year deal marks Nokia's first entry into the microwave (MW) business with Zain Iraq, enhancing network capacity and modernizing the infrastructure to support future growth and increased traffic demand. The deployment […]
By John Lee. The FTTH Councils Global Alliance (FCGA) has announced that Fiber Connect Council MENA, represented by its President, Dr. Ala Mousa [Alaa Mousa; Dr Alaa Jasim], has been appointed as the Chair of the FTTH Councils Global Alliance. Dr. Mousa, who also serves as the CEO of EarthLink, Iraq, will lead the FCGA […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Communications, Dr. Hayam Al-Yasiri, announced an agreement with Qatar's Ooredoo Group to lay undersea cables with a capacity of 500 terabits at the Al-Faw station. According to the Ministry, the cables, comprising 24 pairs, will significantly boost Iraq's international communication capacity by connecting to over 200 global undersea cables, […]
