Baghdad: The Ministry of Communications in Iraq has announced the signing of several international contracts aimed at establishing a safe and efficient corridor for global communications to Europe through Iraq. Minister of Communications, Hiyam Al-Yasiri, revealed these developments during her participation in the economic conference of the Iraqi-British Business Council held in Baghdad.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Minister Al-Yasiri highlighted the existence of three significant infrastructure networks in Iraq, known as Backbone, Sen Backbone, Huawei Backbone, and Nokia Backbone. These networks, which are owned by the state, represent the largest in the Middle East and are designed to facilitate international communications. The Iraqi government is committed to investing in these networks to make them available to the private sector.

The Minister also noted the expansion of fiber optic cable lines in Iraq, with more than 4,000,000 lines connected to the home Viber Phone, utilizing broadband technology to provide fast internet service. This expansion aims to enhance internet access across homes and schools in Iraq.

Minister Al-Yasiri emphasized Iraq’s strategic position as a short, safe, and easy-to-maintain land corridor connecting the Arabian Gulf to Europe via Turkey. This corridor offers a more secure alternative to the longer, more perilous maritime routes, enhancing the passage of fiber optic cables. The Iraqi corridor’s capacity has increased significantly from 10 GB to 1800 GB within months of operation, with further growth anticipated.

The Ministry has also initiated contracts with major global communications companies. A recent agreement with Omantel has been signed, with negotiations underway with Ooredoo and other international firms. The goal is to establish Iraq as a vital transit point for international communications, providing economic stability and security.

Furthermore, there are plans to develop global commercial data centers in Iraq, with approvals granted for a center in Basra. The Ministry is also in discussions with the British company Vodafone to develop strategies for launching the fifth-generation mobile license in Iraq. This collaboration involves a memorandum of understanding and ongoing preparations for the project.