Korek Subscribers Fear Disruption as Iraq Moves to Shut Down Network

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Korek Telecom subscribers are voicing concern over the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission's decision to proceed with shutting down the company's network, warning that the move could disrupt banking services, communications and other parts of their daily lives.

The CMC has instructed Korek customers not to renew subscriptions, recharge balances or make further payments to the company, while telling subscribers to retain their SIM cards pending further instructions.

For many users, the dispute between the regulator and Korek Telecom is less about the company itself than what could happen to the phone numbers and services they rely on.

Subscribers fear loss of essential services

One subscriber told Kurdistan24 that ordinary customers would bear the consequences of the shutdown.

"The primary victims of this decision are the citizens, not the company."

The subscriber said many financial and other services are connected to Korek numbers, raising concerns about access to bank accounts and other services if the network is disconnected.

"There are people with millions of dinars in bank accounts tied to their phone numbers; who will compensate them for their losses?" the subscriber asked.

Another customer called for the decision to be suspended, arguing that it would not serve the public interest.

"We urge that this decision be suspended and not carried out, as it is not in the public interest," the person said, adding that demand for Korek SIM cards remained high.

A vendor in an Erbil market similarly warned that a shutdown could affect a large number of residents who depend on Korek for everyday communications.

The concerns extend beyond individual users. Government institutions and private companies are also among Korek's subscribers, meaning a prolonged interruption could affect organizational communications and services.

CMC warns customers against payments

The CMC said Sunday that it was continuing legal and administrative procedures to suspend Korek's network after the expiry of its contract and the cancellation of a settlement agreement.

The regulator said the settlement was terminated because Korek had failed to fulfill its contractual, legal and financial obligations. It cited Section Nine of Order No. 65 of 2004 and other Iraqi legislation as the legal basis for its actions.

The commission said it had taken measures including seizure orders against Korek's movable and immovable assets and would proceed with shutting down the components and systems forming the company's network.

In its warning to subscribers, the CMC advised customers not to renew subscriptions, recharge balances, purchase new services or make additional payments, saying they could face financial losses if the network is shut down.

The commission also instructed subscribers to retain their Korek SIM cards and said further guidance would be issued through its official channels.

Korek disputes regulator's decision

Korek, meanwhile, has described the CMC campaign against it as "unlawful, unprofessional and unjust," arguing that the regulator does not have the authority to unilaterally cancel a settlement agreement reached with the company.

In a statement cited by Kurdistan24, Korek said a judicial committee established in 2025 had issued recommendations that were later approved by the former prime minister. The CMC subsequently approved the recommendations and signed a settlement agreement with Korek in September 2025.

The agreement was linked to the company receiving a 4G license under conditions comparable to those granted to Iraq's other mobile operators, Korek said.

The company alleged that administrative obstacles prevented the agreement from being implemented and that the CMC eventually moved to terminate it in June 2026.

Korek has also challenged the regulator's authority to cancel the agreement and said it possesses an enforceable court ruling awarding it hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation in a separate dispute with the CMC.

Shutdown could deepen uncertainty

The dispute now places subscribers at the center of a broader legal and regulatory confrontation.

While the CMC says its measures are intended to protect the public interest and safeguard subscribers, customers are seeking clarity over what would happen to their numbers, balances and services if the network is ultimately disconnected.

For Korek users, the immediate concern is therefore not the legal dispute between the company and regulator, but whether a shutdown would leave them without access to essential communications and services tied to their mobile numbers.

The CMC has said it will announce any future instructions concerning Korek SIM cards through its official platforms, leaving subscribers awaiting further clarification as the shutdown procedures continue.