Iraq is part of a $700 million international cable project linking the Gulf to Europe.
Iraq is part of a $700 million international cable project linking the Gulf to Europe.
2026-05-23
Shafaq News – Baghdad
A report issued by S&P Global Market Intelligence revealed that Iraq will be part of the international cable project “WorldLink”, which aims to create a new digital corridor linking the Gulf region to Europe via Iraqi territory, as part of a global expansion wave in submarine cable and data transmission projects.
The report stated that the project, costing approximately $700 million, is privately funded and involves an Emirati-Iraqi consortium comprising Tech 964 Holding, DIL Technology, and Breeze Investments. The cable is planned to originate in Abu Dhabi, extend through Iraq to Turkey, and include branches connecting Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
He added that the project was designed to be neutral for telecommunications companies and targets international telecommunications companies and AI-based applications, as well as providing an alternative route to the traditional congested corridors, thus reducing the risk of disruptions and enhancing the flexibility of data traffic between Asia and Europe.
According to the report, the cable’s design capacity will be around 900 terabytes per second, with a target of reducing response time to less than 100 milliseconds, which supports cloud computing services, data centers, and advanced digital applications.
He noted that the project’s implementation period is up to five years, expecting that the cable’s passage through Iraq will contribute to strengthening its position as a regional hub for data transmission and attracting new investments in the digital infrastructure and communications sector.
The report noted that the Worldlink project is part of a global trend to diversify international cable routes and reduce reliance on traditional bottlenecks, while geopolitical developments in the region, including tensions related to the Strait of Hormuz, may affect the project’s timeline.
shafaq.com
