ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq’s communications and media commission (CMC) on Tuesday called for the “immediate shutdown” of Korek Telecom’s internet services over the carrier’s failure to pay its debts.

The CMC said in a statement that it has decided to “take punitive action” against Korek due to its “failure to pay its debts and continued violations,” urging the telecommunications company to pay its dues.

The commission added that it has called on the communications ministry to implement the decision, stressing that Korek would be required to compensate for its consumers to ensure that their rights “are not harmed.”

The CMC’s Consumer Voice department has also been directed to receive and register the complaints of Korek’s users over the service shutdown, “with Korek Telecom bearing all the consequences resulting from the service interruption.”

In November 2023, Iraq blocked all incoming and outgoing communications between Korek and other carriers over Korek’s failure to pay its financial obligations. The CMC’s decision on Tuesday comes despite its announcement in September 2024 that they have reached a settlement over Korek’s unpaid financial obligations and debts.

Korek’s internet services remain operational as of the time of this writing.