For information on Iraq Telecommunications contact details, please see the following link: 4.2.3 Iraq Additional Service Provision Contact List

Telecommunications throughout Iraq including international connections have been disrupted; widespread government efforts to rebuild domestic and international communications through fiber optic links are in progress; the mobile cellular market has expanded rapidly and its subscriber base is expected to continue increasing rapidly.

Landline services are only operational within the cities.

Domestic: 

• Repairs to switches and lines continue. 
• Additional switching capacity is improving access. 
• Mobile-cellular service is available and centered on 3 GSM networks which are being expanded beyond their regional roots, improving country-wide connectivity. 
• Wireless local loop is available in some metropolitan areas and additional licenses have been issued with the hope of overcoming the lack of fixed-line infrastructure.

International: 

• Country code - 964. 
• Satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region, and 1 Arabsat (inoperative)). 
• Local microwave radio relay connects border regions to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey.
• International terrestrial fiber-optic connections have been established with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kuwait, Iran and Jordan.
• Communications cables: links to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) / FALCON, and the Gulf Bridge International (GBI), and TGN-Gulf international submarine fiber-optic cables have been established (Source: Telecommunications in Iraq).

Note: Areas under ISIS control, such as Mosul City (8.5% of Iraqi area), may not have continuous active mobile coverage.

Telecommunications Regulation

Note: Up to 97% of homes have a satellite dish and there are more than 30 Iraq-facing satellite networks.

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

• Both security telecommunications and data services are provided in Iraq by the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC), led by WFP.
• Security telecommunications services, including radio programming and radio training, and shared Internet connectivity services are provided in Arbat camp and Domiz camp using VSATs. WIDER kits that distribute and manage Internet connectivity are also installed in both camps.
• In addition, there are Communications Centres (COMCEN) in three sites: United Nations (UN) compound in Erbil, the WFP sub-office in Dohuk and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Sulaymaniyah.
• Local capacity building efforts are also ongoing.
• A three-month pilot project to extend Internet connectivity to communities in two centres in Domiz camp will start shortly.
• The ETC is helping to install UNDP mobile satellite communication devices, known as ‘chatty beetles’, in Erbil and Mosul dam.
• The ETC has capacity to pre-stock security telecommunications and data equipment in Erbil for deployment in two new sites.
• All information on the ETC operation in Iraq can be found on the ETC website.

The Following UN Communication Centers (Radio Base Stations) are co-shared by UN Agencies and UNAMI (United Nations Assistance Mission Iraq):

• Erbil UN Communication Center – Covering all of KR-I (Kurdistan Region –Iraq) Radio call sign – E.J. Base – Echo Juliet Base
• Sulaymaniyah UN Communication Center – Covering Sulaymaniyah & Arbat – Radio call sign S.J. Base – Sierra Juliet Base - (Radio room is hosted in UNHCR Offices)
• Duhok UN Communication Center – Covering Duhok & Domiz – Radio call sign D.J. Base – Delta Juliet Base