Baghdad:The Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has confirmed that Starlink’s operations in Iraq are now officially licensed and legal, following the announcement made on Sunday.

According to Iraqi News Agency, Baligh Abu Kilal, Head of the Commission’s Executive Body, stated that the license finalization allows Starlink to accept subscription requests through its website. Although there were initial delays due to security checks, the first batch of subscriptions has been processed, and equipment deliveries to customers are ongoing and smooth.

Abu Kilal also addressed concerns about data control, emphasizing that security regulations tied to the Starlink license grant Iraq full control over data. The Commission has comprehensive visibility on active devices and can track them effectively within Iraq. He refuted claims that Iraqi data is hosted in Qatar, assuring that Iraq retains complete control over it.

He further mentioned that while Starlink initially planned to open access gateways in Iraq after two years, the rising demand has prompted negotiations to establish these gateways sooner, routing traffic through Iraq’s own infrastructure. The control over satellite internet is not solely dependent on access gateways but relies on regulatory compliance and the enforcement of state sovereignty.