Shafaq News- Baghdad

Starlink can help bring internet access to remote areas of Iraq, Earthlink said on Saturday.

Speaking at the eighth Baghdad International Dialogue Conference, Alaa Jassim stated fiber-optic networks now cover most Iraqi provinces, with work delayed in Mosul, Al-Anbar, and Wasit due to difficulties securing approvals. He said political factors had also prevented network expansion in some areas.

Earthlink previously faced significant obstacles in obtaining permits to lay fiber-optic cables, but cooperation with the government has improved, with communities increasingly requesting access to the service. Meetings with the Communications Ministry are now held regularly to address outstanding issues, according to Jassim.

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“The satellite internet service could provide connectivity to remote areas, but he warned that unauthorized use should be addressed through formal regulation.”

Internet quality had improved with the expansion of fiber-optic networks, helping support the growth of e-commerce. Iraq currently ranks at a mid-level in digital development and is seeking to compete with more advanced countries. Jassim added that technological development depends less on heavy spending than on adequate infrastructure, investing in telecommunications.

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