Iraq opens its first satellite ground station to enhance “digital sovereignty”
Iraq opens its first satellite ground station to enhance “digital sovereignty”
2026-10-18
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Sunday evening, Iraqi Minister of Communications Mustafa Sanad inaugurated the first Iraqi ground station for satellite communications in the capital, Baghdad, in a move he said comes within the framework of strengthening digital sovereignty and developing the communications infrastructure in the country.
During a speech he delivered at the station’s opening, in the presence of a Shafaq News Agency correspondent, Sand said that the ministry is launching today the first ground station dedicated to digital sovereignty, considering its opening a step towards achieving national sovereignty in the communications sector.
He added that the project is old, but the work on it led to its completion and operation, noting that Iraq’s ownership of a satellite cannot be achieved without a ground station.
Sand added that the ministry has begun implementing its vision in agreement with the official and concerned authorities, noting that there are about 1,400 stalled projects, which he said can be completed once the complications that hinder their implementation are removed.
In another context, the minister announced his intention to change the logo of the Ministry of Communications, explaining that its official adoption will be after obtaining the approval of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.
For his part, Wael Al-Khalidi, Deputy CEO of the Commerce Group of Companies, said during the conference that the opening of the station represents the launch of a strategic project aimed at enhancing digital sovereignty, based on the development of infrastructure in Baghdad.
He added that the company had carried out similar work in Germany, explaining that the project in Iraq would combine an internet exchange point, a data center, and satellite communication outlets.
He pointed out that Iraq’s geographical location gives it an advantage in connecting regional and international networks between Asia, Africa and Europe, explaining that the station will contribute to providing high-speed internet and satellite broadcasting services, transmitting live broadcasts of channels, and integrating satellite communications with terrestrial networks.
He stressed that the project would provide opportunities for individuals and support economic growth, as well as generate financial returns for Iraq through expanding coverage and providing services, supporting digital education, providing alternative communication channels, and promoting data sovereignty.
The Minister of Communications had announced last Thursday that the station would be inaugurated on Sunday, explaining that it is dedicated to dealing with satellites located in geostationary orbit (GEO).
Sand also called on security and service institutions, government ministries and private sector companies to adopt the station as a main gateway for receiving and transmitting traffic, instead of relying on international infrastructure outside the scope of national sovereignty, in preparation for moving to the next stage of the Iraqi space sovereignty project.
shafaq.com
