• The CMC says it is preparing to switch off Korek’s network components and has restricted access to equipment at tower sites
  • Customers have been told to stop topping up and keep their SIM cards while the regulator prepares further instructions

The fact

Iraq's Communications and Media Commission said on 9 August that it is moving ahead with the shutdown of Korek Telecom's network, including switching off the operator's equipment and systems. Korek is a mobile operator based in Iraq's Kurdistan Region. The CMC said Korek's contract had expired and that it cancelled a settlement agreement after the company failed to meet contractual, legal and financial obligations. It has also placed seizure orders on the company's movable and immovable assets.

Customers have been told not to renew subscriptions, top up balances or buy new services, and to keep their SIM cards until further instructions are issued. Site owners hosting Korek towers were told not to allow company staff or contractors to enter, move or dismantle equipment without CMC approval. The regulator has not yet announced a shutdown timetable. Korek disputes the decision, saying the CMC's executive body does not have the authority to cancel the settlement and that the agreement had been approved by higher authorities

The assessment

The dispute is now affecting how Korek’s network is managed on the ground. By restricting access to tower sites and telling customers to stop topping up, the CMC is moving beyond contract enforcement and into the practical steps needed for a shutdown.

An orderly wind-down will depend on how those steps are coordinated. Customers have been told to keep their SIM cards, but there is still no timetable or guidance on what will happen to their services and remaining balances. At the same time, Korek staff and contractors cannot freely access or remove equipment from tower sites without CMC approval. For BTW readers, the next important detail is how the regulator handles subscribers while controlling access to the physical network. Until that process is set out, the pace and practical impact of the shutdown remain unclear.

What to watch

Watch for the CMC’s shutdown timetable and its instructions for Korek SIMs and remaining customer balances. Any court or government intervention in Korek’s challenge could alter the process. The regulator may also clarify how tower owners, employees and contractors should handle network equipment as components are taken out of service.