The digital terrestrial corridor provides an east-to-west connection and an alternative route with high reliability
BAGHDAD, Iraq, 28 May 2025 – Zain Omantel International (ZOI), the Middle East’s leading regional wholesale business with access to more than 20 international submarine cables in the region, has announced a partnership with Horizon Scope Telecom, Iraq’s leading ICT solutions provider, and the Iraqi Telecommunications and Information Company (ITPC), a government-owned company under the Iraqi Ministry of Telecommunications and Iraq’s leading connectivity company. This partnership enables ZOI to create a digital telecommunications corridor stretching from the Middle East to Europe through Iraq, offering alternative terrestrial connectivity options that provide higher levels of capacity, security and efficiency.
The route will use terrestrial fibre connectivity that utilises Iraq’s position as a digital gateway, creating more reliable services that are less susceptible to interruptions. It will pass through Turkey and make its way up to Frankfurt, Germany. The new corridor will act as an alternative to traditional subsea routes by bypassing some of the turbulent areas. The route will enable international businesses, telecom operators and hyperscalers to expand their reach via robust, low-latency infrastructure, ensuring seamless connectivity between the Middle East and Europe.
“We are delighted to announce that, in the presence of Her Excellency Dr. Hiyam Al-Yasiri, the Iraqi Minister of Communications, we have signed a strategic frame agreement with our partners Horizon Scope and ITPC to establish a new connectivity corridor from the Middle East to Europe. By combining ZOI’s pan-Middle East network with the robust infrastructure of Horizon Scope Telecom and ITPC, we’ve created a route that extends from Iraq into the heart of Europe,” said Mr. Sohail Qadir, CEO at ZOI. “By working together, we will enhance regional and international connectivity, offering higher capacity, security, and efficiency for businesses, operators and hyperscalers across continents. This initiative aligns with our mission to bridge markets, drive digital transformation, and enable new growth opportunities, further reinstating ZOI as the global gateway for our region.”
As a licensed ISP, Horizon Scope Telecom will facilitate direct peering with other networks and interconnection with global internet exchanges. With ZOI and ITPC, it will improve speed and capacity and reduce latency for enterprises and hyperscalers looking to take advantage of Iraq’s rising presence as a regional hub.
“We recognised ZOI and ITPC’s commitment to building resilient and seamless networks that empower global telecommunications through the identification of the world’s next global hubs,” said Mr. Ahmed Abdulsalam, the Managing Director of Horizon Scope. “Offering alternative terrestrial connectivity routes is a critical way to protect against infrastructure vulnerabilities, ensuring that enterprises can capture more opportunities and scale with reliable connectivity.”
As a state-owned company, ITPC has a deep understanding of the regulatory and operational environment in Iraq. It will play a key role in the route’s compliance with international standards, helping to maintain security and regulatory measures to ensure seamless connectivity across Iraq.
“This partnership marks a significant milestone in strengthening Iraq’s position as a connectivity corridor, especially by providing an alternative path to Europe. We are committed to delivering connectivity solutions that the people of Iraq can trust and use to enable seamless global connectivity. We’re excited to see this partnership succeed as we aim to foster economic growth for both local and international enterprises operating in and around Iraq,” said Mr. Ali Y. Dawood, the Director General of ITPC.
About Zain Omantel International (ZOI)
Zain Omantel International (ZOI) is the Middle East’s premier wholesale powerhouse serving regional operators, international carriers, global hyperscalers and cloud providers seeking services within the region and beyond. The first-of-its-kind joint venture signifies a substantial advancement in the telecommunications industry and is poised to become a global powerhouse due to Zain’s extensive regional presence and success in the retail and digital arenas, combined with Omantel’s exceptional wholesale capabilities and comprehensive international subsea and terrestrial networks. ZOI manages all international wholesale requirements of Zain and Omantel operations in eight countries, serving over 50 million customers.
About Horizon Scope Telecom
We deliver high-capacity internet services to public and private sectors through multiple land ports and a submarine line, ensuring uninterrupted and reliable service. Our direct delivery model maximizes service availability and reliability.
Beyond internet services, we offer integrated ICT solutions, including cloud services, data center services, and security services. We also serve the home internet market, ensuring robust connectivity for all customers. Horizon Scope Telecom is a beacon of innovation and reliability in Iraq’s telecommunications landscape.
For more details, please visit https://horizonscope.com/
About ITPC
Informatics and Telecommunication Public Company (ITPC) is one of the structures of the Iraqi Ministry of Communications. ITPC is responsible for completing and operating data transmission networks, providing Internet and telecommunications services, and various information technology services.
The company was founded over 100 years ago, after the establishment of a telephone exchange with 300 lines in the city of Al-Ashar in Basra Governorate at that time, and it was the first telephone exchange in Iraq and the Middle East. The company`s work expanded with the growing population and the need for the services provided. ITPC continues to expand the telecommunications infrastructure across Iraq. ITPC has developed fiber optic networks, microwave communications, telecom complexes, and telephone exchanges in all cities and provinces of Iraq.
ITPC seeks to establish advanced infrastructure through optical cable networks to provide the latest Internet service. ITPC is currently implementing significant projects such as FTTH, optical access projects, and the e-government in cooperation with the private sector of specialized companies.
The Ministry has succeeded in leveraging Iraq’s geographical location by convincing international clients to access Europe through Iraq via its maritime and land outlets, passing through Turkey. These projects will play an active role in enhancing Iraq’s regional standing and increasing state revenues.
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