Iraqi Minister of Communications Mustafa Sanad stated yesterday that the Ministry will submit its vision—aligned with the government's program—to the Council of Ministers within the next three months.

Sanad noted that the Ministry's key strategic priorities include the Fourth Mobile License, digital sovereignty, positioning Iraq as a global transit hub, and several other major telecommunications projects.

He explained that the Ministry's initiatives are primarily technical and telecommunications projects rather than visible infrastructure developments, emphasizing that their impact will be reflected in improved services that citizens and the media will gradually experience.

Regarding the Fourth License project, Sanad stressed that it is an Iraqi initiative, clarifying that Vodafone serves only as the operator and holds no ownership stake in the venture. He added that the original objective was to establish a state-owned national telecommunications company capable of competing with existing operators, including Asiacell, Zain, and Korek, some of which are affiliated with companies headquartered in other Arab countries.

"We do not yet have full national sovereignty over the telecommunications sector, which prompted the idea of creating a national company," Sanad said. "However, the original vision was not fully implemented, as operational management was assigned to Vodafone, while ownership shares were distributed among Al-Salam Company, the Pension Fund, and a newly established specialized state-owned enterprise."

Sanad further explained that several Members of Parliament filed legal challenges against the project, leading to its suspension. He said the Ministry is currently reviewing the complex issue and working to develop a solution that will ultimately result in the establishment of a genuinely national telecommunications company.

He concluded by reaffirming the Ministry's commitment to improving telecommunications services, stating: "We have promised citizens that by 2027 they will enjoy stronger internet services and expanded international gateway capacity."