The Iraqi cabinet approved the establishment of the National Mobile Company to operate 5G technology in partnership with Vodafone International on March 11.

The new company will be formed with contributions from the Ministry of Communications, the National Pension Authority, and the Trade Bank of Iraq, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's media office, the PMO announced.

The statement explained that the company will operate the national 5G technology license in cooperation with Britain’s Vodafone International Communications, representing a significant development in Iraq's telecommunications sector.

"This comes with the participation of the Ministry of Communications, the National Board of Pension, and the Trade Bank of Iraq," according to a statement by the PM's Media Office.

Communications Minister Hiyam Al-Yasiri said in a video statement: "The Cabinet issued a decision to establish the National Mobile Company with the participation of the Ministry of Communications represented by Al-Salam General Company, the Trade Bank of Iraq, and the National Pension Authority, with the aim of maximising the employees' pension fund and providing subsidised services to retirees."

She indicated that the ministry is proceeding with technical preparations for the project alongside Vodafone International and the Media and Communications Commission, noting that "this project was part of the government's ministerial programme and will be implemented soon."

In December, Al-Yasiri announced that the Cabinet had approved Vodafone International as the operator of the governmental national mobile phone license with 5G technology, based on recommendations from the negotiating team formed within the Ministry of Communications.

The decision authorised the Ministry of Communications to negotiate financial support to prepare preliminary procedures for launching the project, which will be implemented in the coming months.