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Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Internet in Iraq: Snail-speed service, high costs, and digital divide
Shafaq News/ Slow, unreliable, and expensive—this is how most Iraqis describe their internet service, likening its performance to that of a "turtle." Despite years of promises from officials to upgrade digital infrastructure and expand coverage, no meaningful progress has materialized. The persistent shortcomings are not just technical grievances; they have become a major obstacle to education, economic development, and social connectivity. Specialist in telecommunications and electronics engineering Knar Roshen Tareq told Shafaq News that Iraq's poor internet service is not simply a matter of inconvenience—it is a structural flaw that affects the country's ability to function in the modern era. Whether it's remote education, digital businesses, or government platforms, Tareq believes the lack of reliable internet undercuts the country's progress and its integration into the global digital economy. Parliamentary Communications Committee member Haitham al-Zurkani places part of the blame on institutional dysfunction. He pointed to the Ministry of Communications and the Communications and Media Commission (CMC) as the two entities responsible for oversight and service regulation. However, al-Zurkani argued that 'both have failed in their mandate, showing clear governmental negligence' and rarely hold internet providers accountable for poor performance. When questioned in parliamentary sessions, officials from both agencies have cited pre-existing contracts with private providers to justify the inadequate service quality, essentially conceding that no serious upgrade has been pursued. Meanwhile, terrestrial service providers—including major players like Earthlink—often shift blame to technical mishaps, such as accidental cable damage during infrastructure projects. These explanations, while occasionally valid, have become repetitive responses that offer little hope for structural resolution. At a technical level, Tareq explained that Iraq's internet infrastructure is fundamentally weak. The country relies on fiber-optic cables routed through neighboring nations, leaving its connectivity vulnerable to external disruptions and manipulation. Internally, the infrastructure is outdated and insufficient to meet the increasing demand from a growing population of internet users. 'Compounding the issue is widespread corruption and administrative inefficiency, which delay or derail efforts to expand or modernize the system. Projects often fall prey to opaque contracting, misallocated resources, or poor oversight.' Tareq revealed that many internet service providers operate without serious regulation or adherence to quality standards. As a result, service levels vary dramatically depending on geography and provider, with no real guarantee of consistent access. He also noted that network capacity has not kept pace with Iraq's rising digital consumption. 'The surge in online activity—from streaming and gaming to e-learning and remote work—has overloaded an already strained system.' Electricity is another factor. Frequent power outages destabilize internet coverage, since transmission towers and distribution nodes depend directly or indirectly on a stable power supply. This challenge is particularly acute in rural areas, where outages can leave communities digitally isolated for hours or even days. Ali Anwar, a specialist in IT governance and cybersecurity, told Shafaq News that Iraq is behind not just in infrastructure but also in the policy frameworks, legal regulations, and operational standards necessary for a modern digital system. He acknowledged recent steps taken by the Ministry of Communications, such as expanding the FTTH (Fiber to the Home) network, which could improve service quality. However, he criticized the ministry's pricing policy, describing it as 'high,' and attributed this to the financial burden of supporting more than 14,000 employees in the self-funded General Company for Communications and Informatics. To cover these costs, the ministry increases wholesale bandwidth prices leased to service providers, which in turn pass the costs on to consumers. For Tareq, the implications of Iraq's digital stagnation go far beyond inconvenience—they are a barrier to national development. 'Without a strong and reliable internet infrastructure, Iraq cannot hope to build a modern state, develop a competitive economy, or foster an open and informed society. The country's digital condition must be treated as a national priority, not a secondary issue.' He stressed that reform must begin with serious investment in infrastructure. This includes expanding internal fiber-optic networks and securing direct links to international submarine cables, thereby reducing reliance on intermediaries and minimizing vulnerability to external disruptions. Tareq also called for the creation of an independent national authority to regulate the internet sector. Such a body would be tasked with enforcing service quality standards, issuing transparent licenses, and holding providers accountable for failures or inefficiencies. Fighting corruption and breaking up monopolistic practices are also essential, according to Tareq. This requires greater transparency in procurement, contract awards, and licensing, as well as opening the market to competitive providers. Introducing alternatives, such as satellite-based services like Starlink, could offer faster and more reliable connections, particularly in underserved rural areas. He also emphasized the importance of improving Iraq's electricity grid, especially through investment in renewable energy sources directly linked to internet infrastructure. Moreover, 'a digitally literate society is more likely to demand better services, engage with e-government platforms, and contribute to a more dynamic digital economy.' Until that recognition turns into policy and action, Iraq will remain tethered to a digital infrastructure that moves at the pace of a turtle—while the rest of the world surges ahead.
Khaleej Times
18-03-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
From day-old babies to children: How Sharjah has been helping Gaza's orphans
Baby Malak was just a few days old when she was found wrapped in a cloth, hanging from a tree in October 2023 in Gaza with no sign of her parents or family. Today, she has been adopted by a nurse and is living healthily in the city. Thousands of children in Gaza, including baby Malak, are benefitting from the work done by Sharjah's The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF). TBHF has partnered with Palestine-based Taawon (Welfare Association) to launch a campaign titled 'For Gaza' which aims to provide long-term care and essential services for over 20,000 orphaned children in the city. On Monday, the foundation held an event for philanthropists and community members to spread awareness about the campaign and invite them to donate for a good cause. Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the event, Dr Tareq Emtairah, Director General of Taawon, explained that they were looking for long-term commitments from their donors. 'Any partner that joins us, ideally would sponsor a kid over five or ten years,' he said. 'This is so that we can create a sustainable support for these kids. If you take care of a kid for five years and abandon it later on, it is very dangerous. That's why we are very careful to make sure that we campaign for enough funding to support the children until they are 18 years." This came as Israeli strikes on various locations killed at least 300 people across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, ending a weeks-long standoff over extending the ceasefire that halted fighting in January. Impact TBHF has been collaborating with Taawon since 2013 to help those in need in Palestine and has completed 11 projects, which has impact over one million people. Established in 1983, Taawon is one of the largest developmental organisations in Palestine. According to Dr Tareq, the association has managed to collect the details of more than 20,000 of the 35,000 orphaned children in Gaza. 'We have verified and registered them in our system,' he said. 'Over half of them are less than two years old and we consider them the most vulnerable. Our priority in the case of orphaned children is to find relatives or extended family members to raise them. We try to encourage local adoptions because we want the children of Gaza to stay there so that they can rebuild the city.' The campaign launched by Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, seeks to secure sustainable aid for over 2,000 children in the form of education, healthcare, psychological support, food, and shelter. Dr Tareq added that it cost $170 (approximately Dh625) to sponsor a child for a month in Gaza. 'The vocational training and education will cost about $69,' he said. 'Food and clothing costs about $50 and healthcare costs $30. The remaining goes into their mental and social care.' Art exhibition An art exhibition held on the sidelines of the event showed different parts of Gaza. Some painted glimmers of hope while others depicted the horrors of the ongoing war. Ranging from Dh2,500 to Dh35,000, the paintings were being sold to raise money for the campaign. Palestinian artist Rihab Saidam's piece titled the 'Mother of the Martyr' showed a mother carrying her dead child wrapped in a keffiyeh. Another one of her painting captured the pain of a sister kissing the hands of her baby brother who had been killed in the war. 'I have been living in the UAE for the last 45 years,' she said. 'I have never seen my homeland and I don't know if I will ever see it. I have family back home in Gaza. The only thing I can do is to keep talking, raise awareness and hope that my paintings sell so I can donate the money to help the children.'
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'I miss my school': BBC launches programme for children in war zones
Tareq, 10, from Gaza, and Safaa, 14, from Sudan live about 2,000km apart. They have never met, but they share a harsh reality - war has stolen their education. "When I saw my school in ruins, a deep sadness overwhelmed me. I long for it to return to what it once was," Tareq tells the BBC from Gaza. "Despite everything, I haven't stopped learning. I study at home, making sure not to waste a moment so when I do go back to school, I will be ready," he adds. In Sudan, Safaa dreams of becoming a heart surgeon. "I'm still holding on to hope," she says, but she has traumatic memories of the country's civil war. "Bodies were scattered everywhere, which deeply moved me and made me want to save lives instead of seeing them being lost." Tareq and Safaa are among the 30 million children who, according to the United Nations children's agency Unicef, are out of school in the Middle East and North Africa. It estimates that more than half - 16.5 million - are in Sudan alone. In response, the BBC World Service has launched an Arabic edition of its award-winning educational programme Dars - or Lesson. In the past year in Gaza, "over 600,000 children - that's all the school-aged children in Gaza - didn't get education", says Saleem Oweis, a spokesperson for Unicef. "We're seeing a pattern of how conflicts, insecurity and crises are inflicting real harm on children's education and learning," he adds. In Sudan, nearly two years after a civil war erupted between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, millions of children are living in refugee camps where education is only available through local initiatives. In an interview with the BBC, Sudan's education minister, Ahmed Khalifa, highlights the scale of devastation. "No state was spared," he says. "Sudan has approximately 15,000 public schools. Between 60% and 70% of these schools have been completely damaged, losing their foundations, infrastructure and books. "Even in safer states, schools have suffered damage due to systematic destruction by militias." Dars was first launched in 2023 for children in Afghanistan, including girls barred from secondary school, with the United Nations describing it as a "learning lifeline" for children unable to attend classes. Designed for children between the ages of 11 and 16, Dars Arabic has weekly lessons on a range of subjects including maths, technology, climate and mental health. It also features the stories of children, such as Tareq and Safaa, who despite war and other obstacles, are still determined to learn. The first episode aired on Sunday 9 February, on BBC News Arabic TV. New episodes are broadcast weekly on Sundays at 05:30 GMT (07:30 EET), with repeats at 10:05 GMT (12:05 EET) and throughout the week. The programme is also available on digital platforms, including BBC News Arabic YouTube, as well as lifeline radio services in Gaza and Syria.
BBC News
10-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
'I miss my school': BBC launches Arabic programme for children in war zones
Tareq, 10, from Gaza, and Safaa, 14, from Sudan live about 2,000km apart. They have never met, but they share a harsh reality - war has stolen their education."When I saw my school in ruins, a deep sadness overwhelmed me. I long for it to return to what it once was," Tareq tells the BBC from Gaza."Despite everything, I haven't stopped learning. I study at home, making sure not to waste a moment so when I do go back to school, I will be ready," he Sudan, Safaa dreams of becoming a heart surgeon. "I'm still holding on to hope," she says, but she has traumatic memories of the country's civil war."Bodies were scattered everywhere, which deeply moved me and made me want to save lives instead of seeing them being lost." Tareq and Safaa are among the 30 million children who, according to the United Nations children's agency Unicef, are out of school in the Middle East and North Africa. It estimates that more than half - 16.5 million - are in Sudan alone. In response, the BBC World Service has launched an Arabic edition of its award-winning educational programme Dars - or Lesson. In the past year in Gaza, "over 600,000 children - that's all the school-aged children in Gaza - didn't get education", says Saleem Oweis, a spokesperson for Unicef."We're seeing a pattern of how conflicts, insecurity and crises are inflicting real harm on children's education and learning," he Sudan, nearly two years after a civil war erupted between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, millions of children are living in refugee camps where education is only available through local an interview with the BBC, Sudan's education minister, Ahmed Khalifa, highlights the scale of devastation."No state was spared," he says. "Sudan has approximately 15,000 public schools. Between 60% and 70% of these schools have been completely damaged, losing their foundations, infrastructure and books."Even in safer states, schools have suffered damage due to systematic destruction by militias." Dars was first launched in 2023 for children in Afghanistan, including girls barred from secondary school, with the United Nations describing it as a "learning lifeline" for children unable to attend for children between the ages of 11 and 16, Dars Arabic has weekly lessons on a range of subjects including maths, technology, climate and mental also features the stories of children, such as Tareq and Safaa, who despite war and other obstacles, are still determined to learn. The first episode aired on Sunday 9 February, on BBC News Arabic TV. New episodes are broadcast weekly on Sundays at 05:30 GMT (07:30 EET), with repeats at 10:05 GMT (12:05 EET) and throughout the programme is also available on digital platforms, including BBC News Arabic YouTube, as well as lifeline radio services in Gaza and Syria.
