Starlink satellite internet systems have gained ground in Iran thanks to a network of international activists.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Iraqi Minister of Communications Mustafa Jabbar Sanad clarified on Saturday, August 22, 2026, that the Ministry has not signed a direct operational contract with U.S. satellite internet provider Starlink, affirming that domestic telecommunications provider EarthLink remains the state’s primary operational partner under existing service frameworks.
Speaking during a panel session at the 8th Baghdad Dialogue Conference, organized by the Iraqi Institute for Dialogue, Sanad stated that the Ministry seeks to harness market competition to upgrade the country’s digital infrastructure. He noted that while EarthLink and other entities currently provide connectivity, Starlink is slated to transition into a direct partnership role within two years.
Participating in the same session, Baligh Abu Kalal, Head of the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), detailed the regulatory and security framework governing satellite internet deployment in Iraq:
The regulatory track for Starlink reflects Baghdad’s strategy to expand advanced satellite broadband into remote, underserved, and enterprise sectors without undermining existing fiber-optic investments or state regulatory oversight.
By integrating direct licensing with legal compliance protocols, Iraqi authorities aim to regularize existing gray-market hardware, enforce data sovereignty standards, and foster competition across the telecommunications landscape.