Page 99 - investment-map-En-2021

92 Iraq Investment Map 2020-2021

3- Communication Sector

The communication sector (wired
and wireless) has witnessed
substantial growth in Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) attraction in the
recent years especially in the mobile
phones and internet technologies
which can be highly attributed to the
existence of an independent
organizing agency and the
renewable opening up to the foreign
companies.
One of the most important development points in the communication sector in Iraq
was developing the local wired and wireless communication networks. Wireless
networks have been capable of changing the land line
phones market in Iraq as these are providing both of
this old service alongside with the internet service
without having to use cables through the populated
neighborhoods of the city.
Government of Iraq contracted in 2006 with different
companies from the private sector to provide the wired
communication networks which provide the services of
voice and data transmission. Communication and
Media Commission also granted in the same year three
national licenses and three regional ones for providing
local wireless communication services, national
licenses may last for 10 years that can be extended for
5 more years while regional licenses can last for only 8
years.
Which indicates the acceptable costs that can be
afforded by many Iraqi families, with the
government planning for a full coverage. In
addition to that, the market remained open to the
foreign companies to increase the national
competition and prices comparison, as there are
more than 3 main operating companies in the
mobile fields in the country.
The communication sector is considered as one of
the successful sectors in the period following the
year 2003. With better security situation, better laws
and fully free market, the climate will be more suitable to attract more local and
foreign investments.