{"version":"1","article":{"id":"ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026","slug":"ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026","language":"en","url":"https://haberpaper.com/en/news/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026?lang=en","title":"OFN and iQ Networks agree dark-fibre transit route across Iraq","summary":"Ooredoo’s international connectivity arm OFN signed an agreement to purchase multiple dark-fibre pairs from Iraqi provider iQ Networks. The deal supports a planned terrestrial corridor through Iraq towards Turkiye and Europe.","category":"business","region":"world","topics":[],"published_at":"2026-10-08T18:08:38+03:00","modified_at":"2026-10-08T18:08:38+03:00","publication_basis":"publication-record","event_period":"2026-10-07","event_period_basis":"event-or-reference-period","sources":[{"name":"Qatar News Agency (QNA)","url":"https://qna.org.qa/en/news/news-details?date=7%2F10%2F2026&id=ofn-signs-dark-fibre-agreement-with-iq-networks-to-advance-iraq-transit-corridor-fig-landing-partnership-with-itpc","publishedAt":"2026-10-07","checkedAt":"2026-10-08"}],"translations":[{"language":"tr","url":"https://haberpaper.com/tr/news/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026?lang=tr"},{"language":"en","url":"https://haberpaper.com/en/news/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026?lang=en"},{"language":"ar","url":"https://haberpaper.com/ar/news/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026?lang=ar"},{"language":"fr","url":"https://haberpaper.com/fr/news/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026?lang=fr"},{"language":"es","url":"https://haberpaper.com/es/news/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026?lang=es"}],"data_types":["metrics"],"data":{"version":1,"blocks":[{"id":"fig-system-capacity","type":"metrics","title":{"tr":"FIG sistemi için duyurulan tasarım kapasitesi","en":"Announced design capacity for FIG system","ar":"السعة التصميمية المعلنة لنظام FIG","fr":"Capacité de conception annoncée pour FIG","es":"Capacidad de diseño anunciada para FIG"},"description":{"tr":"QNA’nın tüm FIG denizaltı sistemi için verdiği kapasite; Irak kara segmentine özel değildir.","en":"Capacity reported by QNA for the entire FIG subsea system; not specific to the Iraq terrestrial segment.","ar":"السعة التي أوردتها الوكالة لنظام FIG البحري بأكمله؛ وليست خاصة بالمقطع الأرضي العراقي.","fr":"Capacité indiquée par QNA pour l’ensemble du système sous-marin FIG; elle ne concerne pas le seul segment terrestre irakien.","es":"Capacidad comunicada por QNA para todo el sistema submarino FIG; no corresponde únicamente al tramo terrestre iraquí."},"methodology":{"tr":"720 Tbps üst sınır olarak planlanan sistem kapasitesidir; gerçekleşen trafik veya Irak’a tahsis edilmiş kapasite değildir.","en":"720 Tbps is an upper stated system capacity; it is neither realized traffic nor capacity allocated to Iraq.","ar":"720 تيرابت/ثانية حد أعلى للسعة المعلنة للنظام؛ وليس حركة فعلية أو سعة مخصصة للعراق.","fr":"720 Tbps est la capacité maximale annoncée du système; ce n’est ni un trafic réalisé ni une capacité attribuée à l’Irak.","es":"720 Tbps es la capacidad máxima anunciada del sistema; no es tráfico realizado ni capacidad asignada a Irak."},"updatedAt":"2026-10-08T02:26:00+03:00","sourceUrls":["https://qna.org.qa/en/news/news-details?date=7%2F10%2F2026&id=ofn-signs-dark-fibre-agreement-with-iq-networks-to-advance-iraq-transit-corridor-fig-landing-partnership-with-itpc"],"items":[{"label":{"tr":"FIG sistemi kapasitesi (üst sınır)","en":"FIG system capacity (upper bound)","ar":"سعة نظام FIG (الحد الأعلى)","fr":"Capacité du système FIG (plafond)","es":"Capacidad del sistema FIG (límite superior)"},"value":720,"unit":"Tbps","period":"2026-10-07","basis":"target","measure":{"id":"fig-planned-whole-system-capacity","unitCode":"terabits-per-second","geography":"gulf-region","frequency":"irregular","aggregation":"unspecified","periodRole":"announcement-date"}}]}]},"data_compilations":[{"id":"fig-system-capacity","creator":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://haberpaper.com/#organization","name":"Haber Paper","url":"https://haberpaper.com/"},"license":{"@type":"CreativeWork","@id":"https://haberpaper.com/en/data-terms/v1#license","name":"Haber Paper Original Data Compilation License 1.0","url":"https://haberpaper.com/en/data-terms/v1"},"rights_scope":"Haber Paper original data arrangement, labels and methodology notes only; underlying source rights and permissions remain separate.","source_license_url":null}],"data_downloads":[{"id":"fig-system-capacity","formats":{"json":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026/data/fig-system-capacity?lang=en&format=json","csv":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/ofn-iq-networks-iraq-dark-fibre-corridor-2026/data/fig-system-capacity?lang=en&format=csv"}}],"content":{"paragraphs":["OFN, Ooredoo Group’s international connectivity arm, and Iraqi fibre infrastructure provider iQ Networks signed an agreement for the purchase of multiple dark-fibre pairs for transit connectivity across Iraq. Qatar News Agency (QNA), reporting on October 7, 2026, said the agreement supports the terrestrial component of a planned integrated route linking Asia, the Gulf, Iraq and Europe. Dark fibre is installed optical-fibre capacity that has not yet been lit by an operator; the agreement concerns purchasing that capacity, not the start of data traffic over it.","OFN’s separate arrangement with the Iraqi Telecommunications and Post Company (ITPC) for a landing of the Fibre in Gulf (FIG) subsea cable is complementary to, but distinct from, the iQ Networks agreement. QNA says the planned subsea landing in Iraq and the terrestrial fibre could form a route onward towards Turkiye and Europe. It reports up to 720 Tbps across 24 fibre pairs for the FIG system connecting seven Gulf countries. That figure refers to the planned capacity of the system as a whole, not capacity allocated to the Iraq segment or traffic already carried.","The companies describe the intended route as an additional geographic path for international data and a way to improve route diversity for cloud, content, data-centre, telecom and AI customers. QNA did not specify the fibre length, delivery or commissioning schedule, investment amount or service terms for transit capacity in Iraq. The agreement is therefore an infrastructure procurement and planning step; it does not establish that construction is complete, commercial service has started or a stated capacity is available to customers. Its actual effect can be assessed only after the route is built, cross-border links are activated and traffic is measured."," Geographic route diversity can reduce the risk that a fault or maintenance event in one country or infrastructure segment affects the whole connection, but the result depends on network design and operational redundancy. This is an intended benefit described by the companies, not a measured resilience outcome. Iraq’s prospective role as a transit hub can create economic value only if cross-border links, permits and operating arrangements, the subsea landing and terrestrial fibre work together."," Turning the agreement into commercial capacity requires intermediate steps such as lighting the fibre, integrating subsea and terrestrial sections, and securing cross-border permissions. QNA gives no timetable for these steps, so the deal is not described as an operating service or near-term capacity increase."],"key_points":[],"sections":[]},"text":"Ooredoo’s international connectivity arm OFN signed an agreement to purchase multiple dark-fibre pairs from Iraqi provider iQ Networks. The deal supports a planned terrestrial corridor through Iraq towards Turkiye and Europe.\n\nOFN, Ooredoo Group’s international connectivity arm, and Iraqi fibre infrastructure provider iQ Networks signed an agreement for the purchase of multiple dark-fibre pairs for transit connectivity across Iraq. Qatar News Agency (QNA), reporting on October 7, 2026, said the agreement supports the terrestrial component of a planned integrated route linking Asia, the Gulf, Iraq and Europe. Dark fibre is installed optical-fibre capacity that has not yet been lit by an operator; the agreement concerns purchasing that capacity, not the start of data traffic over it.\n\nOFN’s separate arrangement with the Iraqi Telecommunications and Post Company (ITPC) for a landing of the Fibre in Gulf (FIG) subsea cable is complementary to, but distinct from, the iQ Networks agreement. QNA says the planned subsea landing in Iraq and the terrestrial fibre could form a route onward towards Turkiye and Europe. It reports up to 720 Tbps across 24 fibre pairs for the FIG system connecting seven Gulf countries. That figure refers to the planned capacity of the system as a whole, not capacity allocated to the Iraq segment or traffic already carried.\n\nThe companies describe the intended route as an additional geographic path for international data and a way to improve route diversity for cloud, content, data-centre, telecom and AI customers. QNA did not specify the fibre length, delivery or commissioning schedule, investment amount or service terms for transit capacity in Iraq. The agreement is therefore an infrastructure procurement and planning step; it does not establish that construction is complete, commercial service has started or a stated capacity is available to customers. Its actual effect can be assessed only after the route is built, cross-border links are activated and traffic is measured.\n\n Geographic route diversity can reduce the risk that a fault or maintenance event in one country or infrastructure segment affects the whole connection, but the result depends on network design and operational redundancy. This is an intended benefit described by the companies, not a measured resilience outcome. Iraq’s prospective role as a transit hub can create economic value only if cross-border links, permits and operating arrangements, the subsea landing and terrestrial fibre work together.\n\n Turning the agreement into commercial capacity requires intermediate steps such as lighting the fibre, integrating subsea and terrestrial sections, and securing cross-border permissions. QNA gives no timetable for these steps, so the deal is not described as an operating service or near-term capacity increase.","corrections":[],"editorial_illustration":{"kind":"symbolic-editorial-illustration","documentary":false,"scope":"section","asset_id":"business","url":"https://haberpaper.com/assets/illustrations/business-1536.webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"alt":"Symbolic industrial workshop with machinery, a warehouse and a crane.","language":"en"},"section_illustration":{"kind":"symbolic-editorial-illustration","documentary":false,"scope":"section","asset_id":"business","url":"https://haberpaper.com/assets/illustrations/business-1536.webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"alt":"Symbolic industrial workshop with machinery, a warehouse and a crane.","language":"en"}}}