The Iraqi Ministry of Communications discussed the installation of new submarine cables in Al-Faw with Qatar's Ooredoo Group on Thursday.

A ministry statement said Minister of Communications Hayam Al-Yasiri met with Ooredoo's Deputy CEO, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani. The statement pointed to Ooredoo's specialization in telecommunications and ownership of a share of submarine cables in the Arabian Gulf.

During the meeting, Al-Yasiri emphasized the importance of cooperation with Ooredoo to install the cables at Al-Faw, which she said will enhance internet capacity across Iraq and extend connectivity to Europe. 

She stressed the need to activate contractual procedures for laying the submarine cables to bolster Iraq's strategic location, comparable to the Suez Canal.

Iraq has emerged as a pivotal transit route for global communications, with increasing interest from four Gulf countries to route their cables through the country. 

Minister Hayam Al-Yasiri has previously highlighted Iraq's secure and reliable passage compared to traditional routes like the Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandab Strait. 

Agreements have been inked with Saudi Arabia's STC-owned Gulf Cable Company and Kuwait's Zajil Company, with ongoing contracting procedures with the Emirates Telecommunications Company and Omani Omantel. 

Offers from Qatar's Ooredoo and Bahrain's Batelco underscore the international interest.The marine cables, supported not only by Gulf states but also by global giants like Vodafone, MTN, Facebook, and China Mobile, enter Iraq via Al-Faw, enhancing its role as a global communications hub. 

Recent developments include landmark agreements with Google and Facebook to route data capacities through Iraq, promising substantial economic returns. The "Civilizations Road Transit" initiative spans southern Iraq, central regions, and Kurdistan into Turkey, leveraging Iraq's geographical advantage.

Surpassing the one-terabyte mark in international data transit, Iraq has solidified its secure transit routes, bolstering its standing with bodies like the International Telecommunication Union. 

Since 2021, Iraq has forged partnerships with leading global telecommunications firms, driving economic growth through transit fees and infrastructure development. With ongoing investments in security and reliability, Iraq aims to attract further global investment in its telecommunications infrastructure.