Iraq Launches 5G Company With Vodafone Partnership

Iraq has launched a national company to run its planned 5G mobile network in partnership with Britain’s Vodafone.

Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani on Sunday signed a directive launching the “national company for mobile phone services”, which was approved by the cabinet in March, his media office said on social media.

The new entity is owned by the communications ministry, the public pensions fund and the state-owned Iraqi Bank of Trade.

“There is a need to speed up procedures for the operation of the new company as it will provide 5G services to citizens,” Sudani said.

“This company represents a qualitative step in enhancing telecommunications services, given the significant development they are witnessing… the company’s shares will also be available to citizens,” he added.

Communications Minister Hiyam Al-Yasiri said in March that the ministry was proceeding with technical preparations for the project alongside Vodafone International, adding that “this project was part of the government’s ministerial programme and will be implemented during 2025”.

In December, Al-Yasiri announced that the cabinet had approved Vodafone as the operator of the national mobile phone license with 5G technology, based on recommendations from the negotiating team formed within the ministry.

In May, officials said Starlink, a US satellite internet provider owned by Elon Musk, had sent a team to Baghdad to discuss pushing into Iraq, one of the largest regional markets with around 47 million consumers.

Al-Sudani met the team in Baghdad. The talks focused on potential services related to digital transformation and improving Iraq’s internet access.