This article describes the communication infrastructure of Iraq.

Telephone system

The 2003 war severely disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq, including international connections. USAID is overseeing the repair of switching capability and the construction of mobile and satellite communications facilities.

Main telephone lines in use: 675,000 (as of 1995 - an unknown number of lines was destroyed in the war)
Number of mobile cellular phones: 20,000 (as of 2002)
Domestic telephone network: Repairs to switches and lines destroyed in the recent fighting continue but sabotage remains a problem. Cellular service is expected to be in place in 2005 or 2006.
International connections:

• 2 Intelsat satellite earth stations (1 Atlantic Ocean region, 1 Indian Ocean region)
• 1 Intersputnik satellite earth station (Atlantic Ocean region)
• 1 Arabsat satellite earth station (inoperative)
• Coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey (the line to Kuwait is probably not operational)

Broadcast stations

There are approximately 80 radio broadcast stations and 21 television broadcast stations, as of 2004. There are approximately 4.85 million radios and 1.75 million televisions in Iraq (as of 1997).

Internet

Iraq has approximately 25,000 internet users (as of 2002). The top-level domain of the country is IQ.

Postal system

A contract for $55 million for a study of the postal system has been awarded as part of the social and economic infrastructure reconstruction program.(2003)

Reference

• The CIA World Factbook - Iraq