Infrastructure of Iraq
Encyclopedia
Infrastructure of Iraq describes the infrastructure
of the country of Iraq. Throughout the history of Iraq
, the country's infrastructure, along with its politics
and economy
, have been affected by armed conflicts; none more serious than the 2003 Invasion
and subsequent reconstruction
.
Iraq has 4,350 km of crude oil pipelines, and 1,360 km for natural gas
.
There are about 113 airports. (1999 est.) Major airports include
There is significant rail transport in Iraq. In November, 2008, an overground service dubbed the Baghdad Metro
began service.
In the hot summer of 2004, electricity was only available intermittently in most areas of the city. According to a member of Paul Bremer's staff, the problems with electricity were exacerbated by a surge in the use of air conditioners which were previously banned by Saddam Hussein
.
of 1991 aerial bombardment caused severe damage to the electric grid that operated the pumping stations and other facilities for potable water delivery and sewage treatment, causing massive problems with Water supply and sanitation in Iraq
. The sanctions imposed by the UN at the conclusion of the Gulf War exacerbated these problems by banning the importation of spare parts for equipment and chemicals, such as chlorine, needed for disinfection.
The 2003 invasion of Iraq
produced further degradation of Iraq’s water supply, sewerage and electrical supply systems. Treatment plants, pumping stations and generating stations were stripped of their equipment, supplies and electrical wiring by looters. The once-capable cadre of engineers and operating technicians were scattered or left the country. Reconstruction efforts faced a nation with a severely degraded infrastructure.
Main telephone lines in use: 833,000 (as of 2005)
Number of mobile cellular phones: 9,000,000 (as of 2005)
Domestic telephone network: Repairs to switches and lines have been made. Cellular service is in place since 2004. Cellular service is still spotty in some locations. It is expected to improve further.
USA Today from 2005 about Iraq and it's Telecommunications Iraqna, an Orascom Telecom company, is the biggest GSM Cell phone provider in Iraq.
International connections:
Al Iraqiya
(or Iraqi Media Network) is Iraq's main public broadcaster.
Since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Internet in Iraq has become commonplace. Uruklink, originally the sole Iraqi Internet service provider
, now faces competition from other ISPs, including broadband satellite internet access services from both Middle East and European VSAT hubs. The premier military telecom service provider in Iraq is
Ts 2
.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
of the country of Iraq. Throughout the history of Iraq
History of Iraq
Iraq, known in Classical Antiquity as Mesopotamia, was home to some of the oldest civilizations in the world, with a cultural history of over 10,000 years. hence its common epithet, the Cradle of Civilization. Mesopotamia, as part of the larger Fertile Crescent, was a significant part of the...
, the country's infrastructure, along with its politics
Politics of Iraq
The politics of Iraq takes place in a framework of a federal parliamentary representative democratic republic. It is a multi-party system whereby the executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers as the head of government, as well as the President of Iraq, and...
and economy
Economy of Iraq
Iraq's economy is dominated by the petroleum sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s, financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran led the government to implement...
, have been affected by armed conflicts; none more serious than the 2003 Invasion
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
and subsequent reconstruction
Reconstruction of Iraq
Investment in post-2003 Iraq refers to international efforts to rebuild the infrastructure of Iraq since the Iraq War in 2003.Along with the economic reform of Iraq, international projects have been implemented to repair and upgrade Iraqi water and sewage treatment plants, electricity production,...
.
Transport
Iraq has 45,550 km of roads, with 38,400 km, of them paved (1996 est.)Iraq has 4,350 km of crude oil pipelines, and 1,360 km for natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
.
There are about 113 airports. (1999 est.) Major airports include
- Baghdad International AirportBaghdad International AirportBaghdad International Airport, originally Saddam International Airport, , BIAP is Iraq's largest airport, located in a suburb about west of downtown Baghdad in the Baghdad Governorate...
- Basra International Airport
- Mosul International AirportMosul International AirportMosul International Airport is an airport located at Mosul, Iraq, with a concrete runway. It became a civil airport in 1992 with the construction of a new terminal...
- Erbil International AirportErbil International Airport-Cargo airlines:-External links:** A catalog of airlines serving EIA with contact information and firsthand experience....
- Sulaimaniyah International AirportSulaimaniyah International AirportSulaimaniyah International Airport is an airport 15 kilometers outside of the city of Sulaimaniyah, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The airport has facilities for both cargo and passengers. Sulaimaniyah International Airport has three terminals for departures, arrivals and VIP...
- Najaf International Airport
There is significant rail transport in Iraq. In November, 2008, an overground service dubbed the Baghdad Metro
Baghdad Metro
The Baghdad Metro is a surface commuter train that operates in the Iraqi city of Baghdad. It is operated by the state owned Iraqi Republic Railways. It resumed operation in October, 2008. The train runs about between Baghdad Central Station and the southern neighborhood of Dora. It operates...
began service.
Energy
Baghdad continues to suffer regular power outages.In the hot summer of 2004, electricity was only available intermittently in most areas of the city. According to a member of Paul Bremer's staff, the problems with electricity were exacerbated by a surge in the use of air conditioners which were previously banned by Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
.
Health
During the Gulf WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
of 1991 aerial bombardment caused severe damage to the electric grid that operated the pumping stations and other facilities for potable water delivery and sewage treatment, causing massive problems with Water supply and sanitation in Iraq
Water Supply and Sanitation in Iraq
Water Supply and Sanitation in Iraq is charcterized by poor water and service quality. Three decades of war, combined with limited environmental awareness, have destructed Iraq's water resource management system. Thus, Iraq faces difficulties to realize the target of 91% of households using safe...
. The sanctions imposed by the UN at the conclusion of the Gulf War exacerbated these problems by banning the importation of spare parts for equipment and chemicals, such as chlorine, needed for disinfection.
The 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
produced further degradation of Iraq’s water supply, sewerage and electrical supply systems. Treatment plants, pumping stations and generating stations were stripped of their equipment, supplies and electrical wiring by looters. The once-capable cadre of engineers and operating technicians were scattered or left the country. Reconstruction efforts faced a nation with a severely degraded infrastructure.
Communications
The 2003 Iraq war severely disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq, including international connections. USAID is overseeing the repair of switching capability and the construction of mobile and satellite communications facilities.Main telephone lines in use: 833,000 (as of 2005)
Number of mobile cellular phones: 9,000,000 (as of 2005)
Domestic telephone network: Repairs to switches and lines have been made. Cellular service is in place since 2004. Cellular service is still spotty in some locations. It is expected to improve further.
USA Today from 2005 about Iraq and it's Telecommunications Iraqna, an Orascom Telecom company, is the biggest GSM Cell phone provider in Iraq.
International connections:
- 2 IntelsatIntelsatIntelsat, Ltd. is a communications satellite services provider.Originally formed as International Telecommunications Satellite Organization , it was—from 1964 to 2001—an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing a constellation of communications satellites providing international broadcast...
satellite earth stations (1 Atlantic Ocean region, 1 Indian Ocean region) - 1 IntersputnikIntersputnikThe Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications commonly known as Intersputnik is an international satellite communications services organization founded on November 15, 1971, in Moscow by the Soviet Union along with a group of eight formerly socialist states...
satellite earth station (Atlantic Ocean region) - 1 Arabsat satellite earth station (inoperative)
- Coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to JordanJordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, KuwaitKuwaitThe State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, SyriaSyriaSyria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, and TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
(the line to Kuwait is probably not operational)
Al Iraqiya
Al Iraqiya
Al Iraqiya is a satellite and terrestrial public broadcaster and television network in Iraq that was set up after the fall of Sadaam Hussein. It is an Arabic language network that serves upwards of 85% of Iraq's population, and is viewed by a significant percentage .The channel began under the...
(or Iraqi Media Network) is Iraq's main public broadcaster.
Since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Internet in Iraq has become commonplace. Uruklink, originally the sole Iraqi Internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
, now faces competition from other ISPs, including broadband satellite internet access services from both Middle East and European VSAT hubs. The premier military telecom service provider in Iraq is
Ts 2
Ts 2
TS 2 is an Internet Provider for US Army soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of all active customers are Polish and US Army soldiers, but TS 2 solutions have been implemented also for private companies and organizations. TS 2' network in Iraq and Afghanistan has over 15 thousand military users...
.