The Media and Communications Authority announced today, Sunday, the shutdown of the main exchanges of Kork Telecom and the cessation of its network coverage in 14 governorates.
The authority stated in a statement received by the Video News Agency, "The official procedures for shutting down Kork Telecom's exchanges began, in cooperation with the Iraqi National Security Service, after the deadline granted to the company’s users expired, as part of the regulatory and legal measures taken against it."
It clarified that "the specialized teams closed 4 main exchanges of the company, with one exchange in Babil Governorate, another in Basra Governorate, and two exchanges in the capital, Baghdad, in addition to closing the company’s main site in Kirkuk Governorate, as part of an executive plan in coordination with the relevant authorities."
It confirmed that "these procedures resulted in the cessation of Kork's network coverage in 14 Iraqi governorates, excluding the three governorates of the Kurdistan region," noting that "coordination is currently underway to complete the network shutdown procedures in Nineveh Governorate, ensuring the completion of the remaining procedures."
It explained that "the initiation of shutting down the exchanges came after the expiration of the additional deadline announced on October 6, 2026, in response to a request from the Transportation and Communications Committee in the Iraqi Council of Representatives, which extended until November 1, taking into consideration the interests of users and allowing them the necessary time to secure their accounts and digital services."
It emphasized that "the network shutdown measures do not mean requiring subscribers to destroy their SIM cards or abandon their numbers," affirming "its continuous commitment to protect users' rights and safeguard their interests, in parallel with enforcing legal and regulatory measures and protecting state rights."