Baghdad: The Head of the Executive Board of the Communications and Media Commission, Abu Kallal, announced on Sunday the adoption of artificial intelligence to anticipate the needs of telecommunications networks in advance. This strategic move is aimed at enhancing the efficiency and reliability of telecom services during high-demand periods.

According to Iraqi News Agency, Abu Kallal stated that mobile phone operators had, for the first time during mass pilgrimage seasons, implemented a specialized artificial intelligence tool to predict traffic movement and demand for telecommunications services toward the holy city of Karbala during the Arbaeen pilgrimage. The tool is designed to analyze real data from over 6,400 telecommunications towers and thousands of active network cells across Iraq, utilizing advanced machine-learning models to forecast growth in data and communications traffic before it occurs.

One notable forecast from the tool projected telecommunications traffic in Karbala province to increase by as much as 135% as the pilgrimage approaches its peak. Additionally, it recorded an overall increase of about 33% in data service usage across the network. This capability allows operators to effectively manage network resources and ensure uninterrupted services.

Abu Kallal highlighted that the system provides an interactive heat map which displays telecommunications traffic geographically in real time. This feature enables technical teams to take proactive measures, such as expanding network capacity, adding temporary sites, and redistributing network resources before service disruptions occur. The initiative marks a significant shift in the management of telecommunications networks during major events, transitioning from a reactive approach to one based on prediction and advance preparedness. This ensures uninterrupted services for millions of Iraqi and foreign pilgrims attending the event.