Abu Raghif: Iraq does not allow communications that conflict with its national sovereignty
The Chairman of the Communications and Media Commission, Nawfal Abu Raghif, discussed with Rebecca Hunter, the Senior Director of Global Licensing and Market Activation at Starlink-SpaceX, on Thursday, ensuring sovereignty over radio frequency space.
The Commission said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The Chairman of the Communications and Media Commission, Nawfal Abu Raghif, received Rebecca Hunter, the Senior Director of Global Licensing and Market Activation at Starlink-SpaceX, at the Commission's headquarters in Baghdad, to discuss regulatory procedures for the Starlink service within Iraq."
The Commission added that "Abu Raghif reviewed during the meeting the legal framework from which the Commission regulates the telecommunications sector, based on its effective Law No. (65) of 2004."
She continued, "The meeting included discussions on the requirements for granting an official license for the Starlink service within Iraq, emphasizing the need to resolve unlicensed uses and address their technical and legal implications, ensuring the orderly launch of the service within clear and stable frameworks." He explained that "the meeting addressed mechanisms for integration with national networks and local service providers, and explored the possibility of market sharing in a manner that preserves the rights of national operators, promotes fair competition, and expands options for users."
Abu Raghif emphasized that "all telecommunications services within the country are subject to sovereign and regulatory standards that guarantee the protection of the frequency space and the maintenance of the national telecommunications infrastructure." He explained that "Iraq does not permit communications to be routed through any systems or countries that conflict with its national sovereignty."
He emphasized that "the Commission is open to serious international investments, provided they fully comply with Iraqi laws and approved regulatory controls, in a manner that serves the country's technological development and digital transformation."
The meeting was attended by Mohammed Al-Gharbawi, Deputy Chairman of the Communications and Media Commission for Technical Affairs, and Sam Turer, Director of Licensing and Global Development at Starlink.
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