Korek Telecom
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq |
| Key people | Sirwan Barzani (Founder) |
| Products | Telecommunications |
Number of employees | 2500[1] |
Korek Telecom (Sorani Kurdish: کۆڕەک تیلیکۆم) is an Iraqi telecommunications company in Erbil, Kurdistan Region.[2] In August 2026, all of its assets were ordered to be seized by the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission.
History
[edit]In March 2011, France Télécom (now Orange S.A.) acquired a 20% indirect stake in Korek Telecom.[3]
On Jan 1, 2015, Korek launched[4] 3G in Iraq after winning one of the three 3G licenses awarded by the government of Iraq. On Dec 16, 2015, Korek became the first operator in Iraq to launch Free Basics[5] in Iraq in partnership with Internet.org and Facebook.
In March 2023, the company was implicated in a major corruption scandal and found guilty of bribing regulators, self-dealing, diversions of corporate assets, sham loans, and other illegal schemes.[6] The Paris-based International Court of Arbitration found Korek and its founder and controlling shareholder Sirwan Barzani guilty of ‘fraud and corruption’ and awarded $1.65 billion in damages to Iraq Telecom Limited, a joint venture of Kuwaiti company Agility and French Orange Group, and International Holdings.[7]
Shutdown
[edit]Due to the company's failure to pay debts owed to the government, in November 2023 Iraq's telecommunications regulator (CMC) blocked all incoming and outgoing communications between Korek and other carriers as a punitive measure. In September 2024, Korek announced that it had reached an agreement with CMC over its financial obligations, however, the block ordered by CMC on external communications remained. In 2025, a judicial committee was appointed to issue recommendations regarding the legal battle between the regulator and the company which were approved by Iraqi authorities. This resulted in another agreement being reached in June 2025 between the two parties.[8]
However, in February 2026, CMC ordered Korek's internet services to be blocked, again due to the company's inability to comply with its financial obligations.[9]
On 9 August 2026, CMC cancelled the aforementioned agreement and ordered the full seizure of all movable and immovable assets belonging to Korek.[10] Korek released a statement complaining about the actions taken against it and pleading to the Iraqi prime minister for intervention, citing the formal agreement reached in June 2025. According to CMC, Korek had violated the conditions of the agreement by failing to meet the legal and financial obligations therein, effectively rendering the agreement void.[11][12] The procedures for the shutdown of the company began on 10 August 2026. On the same day, Masoud Barzani announced that he would visit the capital to discuss "a crucial matter". The visit was abruptly cancelled the next day.[13] On 19 August 2026, CMC urged all Korek users to register with other licensed telecommunications operators and set up alternative authentication and recovery methods in order to avoid losing access to their accounts registered with Korek numbers as well as avoid data loss.[14]
During the Baghdad International Dialogue Conference which was attended by Baleegh Abu Kalal, CMC's director of operations, he stated that 'digital sovereignty' belongs exclusively to the federal government, and that telecommunications companies in Kurdistan Region will pay the price for the debts they owe the government.[15]
On 23 August 2026, Baghdad's Rusafa District Court issued a decision to temporarily suspend CMC's actions against Korek until a formal verdict is reached in court. The decision came after the regulator closed Korek's Baghdad headquarters and outlets in the city.[16] On 26 August 2026, the Rusafa District Court issued a ruling "overturning the injunction filed by the managing director of Korek Telecom and upholding the CMC’s decision to suspend operations with the company". The court found that Korek's petition lacked "procedural and legal grounds".[17][18]
On 3 September 2026, CMC closed Korek's offices and service centres in Najaf, Karbala, Diwaniyah and Babylon.[19] On 6 September, the closures were extended to Kirkuk, Saladin and Nineveh.[20] On 13 September, CMC announced that Korek users had until 30 September to secure their accounts before their communications are shut down, stating: "once the specified deadline has passed, [CMC] will proceed to shut down Korek Telecom's telephone exchange in the capital Baghdad and the rest of Iraq's governorates in turn, as part of the regulatory and legal measures taken against the company".[21] On 18 September, Kurdistan Regional Government minister of communications stated that Korek will not cease operations in Kurdistan Region, since, according to the minister, no company can be shut down without consulting with the regional government.[22]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Agility Press Release". Archived from the original on 2016-05-14. Retrieved 2016-05-14. France Telecom-Orange and Agility to acquire 44% stake in Korek Telecom
- ↑ "A new war in Iraq, now between Shia Arabs and Kurds". The Economist. 16 October 2017.
- ↑ Goldstein, Phil (2011-03-16). "France Telecom invests €175m in Iraqi operator Korek". FierceWireless. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
- ↑ "Extra G". Korek Telecom.
- ↑ "Free Basics". Korek Telecom. Archived from the original on 2016-01-04.
- ↑ "White & Case secures US$1.65 billion arbitration award for Iraq Telecom Limited". White&Case.
- ↑ "ICC finds Korek liable to pay damages to Iraq Telecom". Developing Telecoms.
- ↑ "Korek Subscribers Fear Disruption as Iraq Moves to Shut Down Network". Erbil Weekly.
- ↑ "Korek Telecom CEO slams Iraq's contract decision as 'unlawful,' vows legal action". The New Region.
- ↑ "Korek Accuses Iraq's Telecom Regulator of 'Unlawful' Campaign as Shutdown Looms". Kurdistan 24.
- ↑ "Korek Telecom asks Iraqi PM to intervene over dispute with Iraqi telecom regulator". Rudaw.
- ↑ "Korek Telecom faces complete operational shutdown". Shafaq News.
- ↑ "مصادر تكشف أسباب تأجيل زيارة مسعود بارزاني إلى بغداد: "سيأتي مسرور لأمر حاسم"". Ultra Iraq (in Arabic).
- ↑ "Iraq telecom regulator urges Korek users to secure backup numbers for account access, recovery". Rudaw.
- ↑ "أبو كلل: السيادة الرقمية بيد السلطة الاتحادية ولا يمكن توزيعها". Iraqi News Agency (in Arabic).
- ↑ "Court suspends regulator's action against Korek days after offices closed". +964 Media.
- ↑ "Iraqi court upholds CMC's decision against Korek, says regulator". The New Region.
- ↑ "Baghdad court clears way for suspension of Korek operations". Rudaw.
- ↑ "Korek closures extended to three more governorates". +964 Media.
- ↑ "Korek office closures reaches eight governorates across federal Iraq". +964 Media.
- ↑ "هيئة الإعلام والاتصالات تمهل مستخدمي كورك حتى نهاية أيلول". PUKmedia (in Arabic).
- ↑ "KRG minister says Korek Telecom to continue operating in Kurdistan despite Baghdad threats". Rudaw.
No party can shut down a Kurdistan-based enterprise without consulting with the KRG. We operate under a federal system—not a centralized or dictatorial system.