MOC: We will start negotiating with international companies to operate fifth-generation

Baghdad - INA

Minister of Communications Hiyam Al-Yasiri explained the contents of the Cabinet’s decision to negotiate with international companies on fifth-generation technology. While confirming that the ministry will proceed with this, she explained that it will include the national license that the ministry is working on, revealing positives related to internet speed, electronic payment services, and cybersecurity.

Al-Yasiri said in an official statement followed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Today, the Council of Ministers took an important decision regarding the national mobile phone license, as the Council of Ministers had previously issued a decision to grant the license for the mobile phone opportunity with fifth-generation technology to the Ministry of Communications to establish a government company and launch a government license with modern technology. Today, after efforts that lasted several months, the Council of Ministers issued a decision to form a direct negotiation team with global operators and authorize the team to negotiate directly in person with a number of global operators with experience, competence and specialization in the field of the national license with fifth-generation technology, as well as those who have extensive experience and those who have the desire to work in Iraq and those who have experiences in Middle Eastern countries."

She added, "The decision authorized the Ministry of Communications to negotiate with these international companies to choose the best of them, as well as to provide financial support to prepare the preliminary procedures for launching the project, which will be completed in the coming months. Iraq and with the strenuous efforts of the National Services Government, succeeded in convincing international operators to work in Iraq, as it is an attractive environment for investment supports foreign investors, and provides investors with all the possibilities for success, developing Iraqi infrastructure, and providing the best services to citizens. We succeeded in convincing a number of international operators who are among the first class in terms of experience and specialization, and the global name. On the other hand, during that period, we were also in direct contact with the Communications and Media Commission to prepare the technical requirements necessary to launch the license, and the Commission is still carrying out some procedures in terms of calculating the license price, determining frequencies, etc., and in a continuous and strenuous effort in this field. On the other hand, we worked with the Retirement Fund and the Guarantee Fund to secure the necessary funding for the project, ensuring that a wide segment of the Iraqi people benefit from the revenues of this project."

She added, "This project is distinguished by the fact that for the first time in the history of Iraq, there will be a government mobile license with modern technology, which is the fifth-generation technology, which differs from the current fourth-generation technology and previous generations in terms of providing very high internet speeds, as well as other advanced services that support digital transformation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and others. In addition, this license is distinguished from all licenses currently operating in Iraq in that its revenues return entirely to the state in reality, and it will be directed towards maximizing the state's financial resources in order not to keep oil as the only primary source of income for the Iraqi state. Today, most countries in the world have begun to move towards launching government licenses in order to maximize their revenues and increase the state's resources through the communications sector. Iraq was also one of the pioneering countries in this, and in reality, there is great support from the Prime Minister and daily follow-up." 

The Council of Ministers decided today, Tuesday, that in order to proceed with the procedures for implementing the national mobile phone license project, the Council decided to form a team headed by the Minister of Communications to negotiate with global operators from reputable international companies, with experience and competence in the field of building, operating and managing mobile phone networks with fifth generation technology (5G ) , who have expressed interest and desire to work in Iraq, and to choose the best in terms of the global brand and the breadth of work experience in the countries of the Middle East, and other selection quality criteria.