Baghdad wants Kurdistan Region to hold 5G launch until federal rollout

BAGHDAD — The Communications Ministry wants 5G to launch across federal governorates and the Kurdistan Region simultaneously, the minister said, though the Region has already moved ahead of Baghdad on introducing the service.

“We are working to reach an agreement with them for a simultaneous launch of this service,” Mustafa Sanad told the Iraqi News Agency. He said a KRG representative in Baghdad delivered a written invitation from the Region’s prime minister during his first week in office, repeated by the Region’s transport and communications minister about a week ago. “We are determined to go to Erbil,” he said.

He described the outstanding disputes as limited, pointing to an internet cable running from Basra toward Europe through the Region, which requires coordination with companies operating there once it crosses into Kurdistan territory. The ministry wants Iraq to hold a single position internationally, with external coordination running through the federal ministry.

Sanad also raised the difference in regulatory structure. The Region’s communications ministry oversees several telecommunications companies, including Korek, and there is no equivalent to the federal regulator, meaning the Region approaches the ministry directly when urgent issues arise, he said.