New Partnership to Connect the Middle East and Europe via Iraq
By John Lee.
Zain Omantel International (ZOI) has announced a partnership with Iraq's Horizon Scope Telecom and the Iraqi Telecommunications and Information Company (ITPC), a government-owned company under the Iraqi Ministry of Telecommunications.
This partnership enables ZOI to create a digital telecommunications corridor stretching from the Middle East to Europe through Iraq, offering alternative terrestrial connectivity options that provide higher levels of capacity, security and efficiency.
According to a statement from ZOI, the route will use terrestrial fibre connectivity that utilises Iraq's position as a digital gateway, creating more reliable services that are less susceptible to interruptions. It will pass through Turkey and make its way up to Frankfurt, Germany. The new corridor will act as an alternative to traditional subsea routes by bypassing some of the turbulent areas. The route will enable international businesses, telecom operators and hyperscalers to expand their reach via robust, low-latency infrastructure, ensuring seamless connectivity between the Middle East and Europe.
Mr. Sohail Qadir, CEO at ZOI, said:
"By working together, we will enhance regional and international connectivity, offering higher capacity, security, and efficiency for businesses, operators and hyperscalers across continents."
Mr. Ahmed Abdulsalam, the Managing Director of Horizon Scope, said:
"Offering alternative terrestrial connectivity routes is a critical way to protect against infrastructure vulnerabilities, ensuring that enterprises can capture more opportunities and scale with reliable connectivity."
Mr. Ali Y. Dawood, the Director General of ITPC, said:
"This partnership marks a significant milestone in strengthening Iraq's position as a connectivity corridor, especially by providing an alternative path to Europe. We are committed to delivering connectivity solutions that the people of Iraq can trust and use to enable seamless global connectivity."
(Source: ZOI)

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