Iraq to sign transit deals in Doha routing European internet traffic

The Iraqi Ministry of Communications announced on Friday evening, October 30, 2026, that it will sign official agreements in Doha, Qatar, with three major nations to transit internet capacities through Iraqi territory to Europe. The formal signing ceremony will take place on November 9, 2026, on the sidelines of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference and elections. According to a ministerial statement, the strategic initiative is designed to solidify Iraq’s role as an international data transit bridge and a pivotal regional telecommunications hub linking the Middle East and Asia directly to European digital networks. The ministry highlighted that this expansion will position Iraq as a global leader in the growth of terrestrial transit capacity volumes routed across sovereign territory over the preceding four months, advancing Baghdad’s broader strategy to monetize its geographic advantage as an alternative overland fiber corridor to undersea maritime routes.