The Media Authority confirms that the communications infrastructure in the Abu Ghraib area has been subjected to sabotage

Baghdad - INA

The Communications and Media Commission confirmed on Friday that the communications infrastructure in the Abu Ghraib area had been subjected to sabotage. 

The authority said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): that it “received, through the number (177) designated for the Consumer Voice service, and since early morning, a large number of complaints from citizens and duly licensed companies about the interruption of Internet service in the Abu Ghraib area in Baghdad,” noting that “Based on its regulatory role under Order 65 in force and for the purpose of preserving consumers’ rights and preventing monopoly in the telecommunications market, it sent a number of technical teams, which conducted a field inspection in the above area.”.

 "The Authority's technical teams confirmed that unlicensed companies cut Internet service cables from dozens of licensed towers in the region, under the pretext of these companies contracting with the General Company for Communications and Informatics and monopolizing the provision of service to them in those areas. These companies also used unauthorized frequencies and microwave devices." Licensed companies negatively affect the allocations of licensed companies that operate in a fundamental manner,” noting that “the authority’s technical teams recorded a number of legal violations against unlicensed and subversive companies, which will be dealt with in accordance with the approved legal contexts.”.

The Authority called on the security services to “support them in reducing sabotage operations targeting communications infrastructure, from which the citizen is harmed to a fundamental degree,” reassuring the owners of towers duly licensed by the Authority in accordance with Law No. 13 of 2023, that it “will follow up on this file and restore their legitimate rights in accordance with the law".