Korek Telecom

Korek Telecom developed as an Iraqi telecommunications operator based in Erbil and serving the country's mobile communications market. The supplied reference material does not specify the company's founding year, original incorporation structure, or the precise sequence of its earliest network deployments. It does, however, identify Sirwan Barzani as its founder and controlling shareholder and places the company within Iraq's competitive telecommunications sector. A significant international development occurred in March 2011, when France Télécom acquired an indirect 20 percent stake in Korek. France Télécom subsequently became known as Orange S.A. The investment linked Korek to a large international telecommunications group at a time when Iraq's communications market was attracting foreign capital and technical interest. The available material does not establish the later status of Orange's interest, so no current ownership conclusion is drawn here. Korek's network and service portfolio expanded with the introduction of 3G. On 1 January 2015, the company launched third-generation services after obtaining one of three 3G licenses issued by the Iraqi government. This was an important technical and commercial step because it enabled faster mobile data services and supported broader smartphone and internet use. Later that year, on 16 December, Korek launched Free Basics in Iraq in cooperation with Internet.org and Facebook. The initiative provided users with access to selected online services under the Free Basics model and made Korek the first Iraqi operator to launch the service, according to the reference material. The company's subsequent history was dominated by a dispute concerning ownership, corporate conduct, regulatory relationships, and financial obligations. In March 2023, the Paris-based International Court of Arbitration reportedly found Korek and Sirwan Barzani guilty of fraud and corruption. The allegations described in the reference include bribery of regulators, self-dealing, the diversion of company assets, sham loans, and other unlawful schemes. The tribunal awarded $1.65 billion in damages to Iraq Telecom Limited, described as a joint venture involving Kuwaiti company Agility, Orange Group, and International Holdings. The arbitration decision placed Korek at the center of a high-value international commercial dispute and generated substantial reputational and regulatory consequences. The later regulatory conflict involved the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission, or CMC. The reference states that Korek and the CMC reached a formal agreement in 2025, but that the regulator later cancelled it. Korek reportedly argued that the agreement should remain effective and appealed to Iraq's prime minister for intervention. The CMC reportedly took the opposite position, asserting that Korek had failed to meet the agreement's legal and financial conditions and that the company's noncompliance rendered the agreement void. On 9 August 2026, the CMC reportedly ordered the seizure of Korek's movable and immovable assets. Korek objected publicly, while the regulator's action was followed by a shutdown beginning on 10 August. On 19 August, the CMC reportedly advised users to transfer to other licensed telecommunications operators and to establish alternative authentication and account-recovery methods so that they would not lose access to accounts associated with Korek numbers or suffer data loss. Since the supplied reference describes these events as occurring in 2026 and does not provide a later independent status update, the company's current status remains unknown rather than definitively recorded as active or defunct.

1. 2026Asset seizure and shutdown reported

   The CMC reportedly ordered the seizure of Korek's assets on 9 August, with shutdown activity beginning on 10 August.

   Source
2. 2023International arbitration award

   An International Court of Arbitration proceeding reportedly found Korek and Sirwan Barzani responsible for fraud and corruption and awarded $1.65 billion in damages to Iraq Telecom Limited.

   Source
3. 20153G network launch

   Korek launched 3G services in Iraq on 1 January after receiving one of three government-issued 3G licenses.

   Source
4. 2015Free Basics launch

   Korek launched Free Basics in Iraq on 16 December in partnership with Internet.org and Facebook.

   Source
5. 2011Orange acquired an indirect stake

   France Télécom acquired an indirect 20 percent stake in Korek Telecom in March.

   Source

An Iraqi mobile and connectivity operator with a strong base in the Kurdistan Region and a national-market presence.

• Korek mobile servicesMobile telecommunications

  Korek's core offering is mobile telecommunications in Iraq, including cellular voice and messaging connectivity. The reference material identifies the company as an Iraqi telecommunications operator but does not provide a detailed tariff catalogue, subscriber segmentation, coverage map, or current service terms.

• Korek 3GMobile data2015

  Korek launched third-generation mobile services on 1 January 2015 after winning one of the three 3G licenses awarded by the Iraqi government. The service represented the operator's transition toward higher-speed mobile internet and data-enabled communications.

• Free BasicsMobile internet access2015

  Korek introduced Free Basics in Iraq on 16 December 2015 through a partnership with Internet.org and Facebook. The service model offered access to selected online services without charging users for certain data usage. The reference identifies Korek as the first Iraqi operator to launch it.

• Broadband and connectivity servicesInternet connectivity

  The existing dossier associates Korek with broadband services, but the supplied reference does not specify the technologies, product names, customer groups, or current availability. This entry therefore records the category without asserting a detailed product portfolio.

• 2015Free Basics Iraq launch

  Iraq

  Korek partnered with Internet.org and Facebook to launch Free Basics in Iraq, providing selected online access under the Free Basics service model.

  Outcome. The reference identifies Korek as the first Iraqi operator to launch Free Basics.

  Source

• 2026Regulatory seizure and shutdownOther

  The CMC reportedly determined that Korek had failed to satisfy legal and financial obligations under an agreement associated with the regulator.

  What changed. The CMC ordered seizure of Korek's movable and immovable assets on 9 August 2026; shutdown activity reportedly began the following day.

  Aftermath. The regulator later urged users to move to other licensed operators and establish alternative account-authentication and recovery methods.

  Source
• 2015Launch of 3G servicesProduct launch

  The Iraqi government awarded three 3G licenses, and Korek won one of them.

  What changed. Korek launched 3G mobile services on 1 January 2015.

  Aftermath. The launch expanded Korek's mobile data capabilities in Iraq.

  Source
• 2015Launch of Free BasicsProduct launch

  Korek pursued a partnership with Internet.org and Facebook to provide selected online access through the Free Basics model.

  What changed. The company launched Free Basics in Iraq on 16 December.

  Aftermath. Korek became the first Iraqi operator to launch Free Basics, according to the reference material.

  Source

• 2023Fraud and corruption arbitration disputeControversy

  In March 2023, an International Court of Arbitration proceeding reportedly found Korek and Sirwan Barzani responsible for fraud and corruption involving alleged regulatory bribery, self-dealing, diversion of corporate assets, sham loans, and related schemes. The tribunal awarded $1.65 billion in damages to Iraq Telecom Limited.

  Source

• 2026Iraqi regulator ordered seizure of Korek assets

  Reference material states that the Communications and Media Commission ordered the seizure of Korek's movable and immovable assets on 9 August 2026.

  RegulationBankruptcy
  Source
• 2026Korek shutdown began after regulatory seizure order

  According to the supplied reference, the company's shutdown began on 10 August 2026 after the Iraqi regulator's seizure order.

  RegulationOther
  Source
• 2026Regulator advised Korek subscribers to migrate to other operators

  On 19 August 2026, the Communications and Media Commission reportedly urged Korek users to register with other licensed operators and establish alternative authentication and recovery methods.

  RegulationOther
  Source
• 2015Korek launched 3G services in Iraq

  The operator launched 3G on 1 January after winning one of three 3G licenses awarded by the Iraqi government.

  Product launchProduct generation
  Source
• 2015Korek introduced Free Basics in Iraq

  Korek launched Free Basics on 16 December in partnership with Internet.org and Facebook, becoming the first Iraqi operator to offer the service.

  Product launchCampaign
  Source
• 2011France Télécom acquired an indirect stake in Korek Telecom

  France Télécom, now Orange S.A., acquired an indirect 20 percent stake in Korek Telecom.

  M&A
  Source

1. Korek Telecom