Home
[size=36]Stop projects and tourist offices and increase unemployment .. Blocking the Internet increases the losses of Iraqis[/size]
Reports | 09:23 - 16/10/2019
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
BAGHDAD -
Iraqi authorities have blocked the Internet, temporarily cutting bridges of communication between protesters and curbing the flow of bloody pictures and videos of demonstrators. But at the same time, it has cut off the livelihoods of thousands of start-up entrepreneurs who have so far lost nearly $ 1 billion.
Iraqis are still deprived of access to social media today, despite the return to calm on the streets of the country, which witnessed a week of bloody protests that killed 110 people and 10 people, according to the Iraqi Commission for Human Rights.
After the wave of protests began on October 1, Iraqi authorities blocked access to Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, before the Internet was completely cut off the next day.
To circumvent the blocking, Iraqis have secretly moved to download applications that allow access to servers outside the country. Others have used satellite communications, which are very expensive, to communicate with the outside world. But that is not a way out for some companies that rely on their work on the Internet.
"Our daily losses are more than 50 percent," the accounting director of an electronic application delivery company told AFP. The customer is supposed to access the delivery application and determine the order that arrives to the company and the latter communicates with the seller concerned to prepare the order and send it, and the customer can follow the process directly through the application.
But "the application is not working, at least not everywhere, and although we have developed a map that can be browsed without the Internet, and there is a significant delay, and thus lose the satisfaction of our customers as well», according to the same manager, who asked not to be identified.
The company has increased the use of regular communications and text messages due to the interruption of the Internet, resulting in significant financial losses, especially in the end of the year usually allocated to the inventory.
According to the organization «NetBlox» non-governmental specialized in cybersecurity, the losses suffered by the entire Iraqi economy, where e-commerce is still emerging, amounted to 951 million dollars.
This includes only seven days. The 12-day restrictions on 3G and social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) cost about $ 10 million a day.
One of the founders of a startup entrepreneurial company in Baghdad told AFP: «Online sales have been suspended for 12 days, because they rely especially on the means of communication». "There are at least 15,000 pages of sales in Iraq that typically sell between 10 and 15 daily orders worth 50,000 dinars ($ 40) per order (tens of millions of dollars to date)," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. This stopped, and priest on it ».
He points out that the recession has hit especially "women heads of household and girls who cannot work outside the home" in a conservative country such as Iraq. He also points out that, according to preliminary statistics, there are, for example, more than 400 cyclists, and 5,000 motorists are not currently working, especially those who rely on the applications of taxi companies that work exclusively on the Internet.
The ban also hit travel and travel agencies, whose bookings were almost completely stopped, and lost about $ 15,000 a day, according to an employee of a well-known company in the capital.
"We were unable to book any flights," she told AFP. Our only alternative was to work over the phone with companies in Erbil, the largest city in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, which was not obscured by its association with the network through a different system. But this does not bring any profits to companies, but only serves continuity in the labor market and retain customers. Iraqi authorities cut off Internet and international communications last year in response to demanding protests in southern Iraq.
The ban also affects some functions and incomes. "Because of the Internet crisis, four of our colleagues have left work, fearing they won't get paid," said the travel company employee.
This fear is reinforced by the fact that "the majority of tourism companies have reduced the salaries of their employees by 30 percent." The Ministry of Communications announced at the end of last week that it had obtained official approvals on the restoration of Internet service «round the clock and without interruption», but this did not translate a reality.
Iraqi authorities have blocked the Internet, temporarily cutting bridges of communication between protesters and curbing the flow of bloody pictures and videos of demonstrators. But at the same time, it has cut off the livelihoods of thousands of start-up entrepreneurs who have so far lost nearly $ 1 billion.
Iraqis are still deprived of access to social media today, despite the return to calm on the streets of the country, which witnessed a week of bloody protests that killed 110 people and 10 people, according to the Iraqi Commission for Human Rights.
After the wave of protests began on October 1, Iraqi authorities blocked access to Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, before the Internet was completely cut off the next day.
To circumvent the blocking, Iraqis have secretly moved to download applications that allow access to servers outside the country. Others have used satellite communications, which are very expensive, to communicate with the outside world. But that is not a way out for some companies that rely on their work on the Internet.
"Our daily losses are more than 50 percent," the accounting director of an electronic application delivery company told AFP. The customer is supposed to access the delivery application and determine the order that arrives to the company and the latter communicates with the seller concerned to prepare the order and send it, and the customer can follow the process directly through the application.
But "the application is not working, at least not everywhere, and although we have developed a map that can be browsed without the Internet, and there is a significant delay, and thus lose the satisfaction of our customers as well», according to the same manager, who asked not to be identified.
The company has increased the use of regular communications and text messages due to the interruption of the Internet, resulting in significant financial losses, especially in the end of the year usually allocated to the inventory.
According to the organization «NetBlox» non-governmental specialized in cybersecurity, the losses suffered by the entire Iraqi economy, where e-commerce is still emerging, amounted to 951 million dollars.
This includes only seven days. The 12-day restrictions on 3G and social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) cost about $ 10 million a day.
One of the founders of a startup entrepreneurial company in Baghdad told AFP: «Online sales have been suspended for 12 days, because they rely especially on the means of communication». "There are at least 15,000 pages of sales in Iraq that typically sell between 10 and 15 daily orders worth 50,000 dinars ($ 40) per order (tens of millions of dollars to date)," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. This stopped, and priest on it ».
He points out that the recession has hit especially "women heads of household and girls who cannot work outside the home" in a conservative country such as Iraq. He also points out that, according to preliminary statistics, there are, for example, more than 400 cyclists, and 5,000 motorists are not currently working, especially those who rely on the applications of taxi companies that work exclusively on the Internet.
The ban also hit travel and travel agencies, whose bookings were almost completely stopped, and lost about $ 15,000 a day, according to an employee of a well-known company in the capital.
"We were unable to book any flights," she told AFP. Our only alternative was to work over the phone with companies in Erbil, the largest city in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, which was not obscured by its association with the network through a different system. But this does not bring any profits to companies, but only serves continuity in the labor market and retain customers. Iraqi authorities cut off Internet and international communications last year in response to demanding protests in southern Iraq.
The ban also affects some functions and incomes. "Because of the Internet crisis, four of our colleagues have left work, fearing they won't get paid," said the travel company employee.
This fear is reinforced by the fact that "the majority of tourism companies have reduced the salaries of their employees by 30 percent." The Ministry of Communications announced at the end of last week that it had obtained official approvals on the restoration of Internet service «round the clock and without interruption», but this did not translate a reality.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
» utube MM&C 4/16/24 IQD Update - Iraq Dinar - America - Activate - Massive Economic Deals -
» utube MM&c 4/19/24 Iraqi Dinar - Private Sector - Economic Stability - Financial Reform - Al Sudan
» Iraq officially signs the “Singapore” agreement to resolve trade disputes
» Parliament Finance advises raising exchange rates again... What about oil revenues?
» Al-Sudani: Iraq is in the process of recovery and has taken its leading position that attracts work
» Al-Araji: Iraq is prepared to deal with all circumstances and seeks partnership with the United Stat
» Sudanese from Michigan: The government represents all components and is keen to take care of the aff
» Democratic Party: The "new generation" is the most corrupt and has dozens of cases in court
» What is the benefit of Iraq establishing a petrochemical plant in Egypt?!.. An oil expert explains
» A judicial delegation participates in the Permanent International Forum for Commercial Courts in Qat
» Al-Sudani: The government follows a balanced policy that makes Iraq a station for security
» Deduction of 160 million dinars from the salaries of MPs absent from Parliament sessions
» Central Bank: Washington praised Iraq's measures to resolve 80% of the financial transfer file
» Voices of Resilience: Al-Sudani’s frankness embarrasses the White House
» Al-Alaq confirms the formation of a committee between Baghdad and Washington regarding sanctions on
» Former MP: The Democrat will not hand over power after the regional elections
» Document/allocation of 20% of the lands of Al-Jawahiri Complex to employees of the Ministry of Defen
» Al-Hakim: Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington was a protocol and missed the two most important files
» Parliamentary Security: The National Security Service law will be voted on by Parliament soon
» Reconstruction and Housing: Zarbatieh residential project completed by 82%
» Al-Sudani reveals an intention to establish Al-Faw refinery with a capacity of 300 thousand barrels
» Government readiness to move the Doura refinery to an alternative location.. What are the conditions
» Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington.. Implications and results
» Association of Iraqi Private Banks: The suspension of some electronic payment services yesterday was
» Parliamentary memorandum.. Two solutions were before the Federal Court instead of removing the compo
» Blue fuel... Iraqi steps towards inexhaustible wealth for a century
» For fear of being "upset"... MPs "evade" signing to host Al-Sudani in Parliament
» Al-Sudani’s statement to convert 40% of Iraq’s exports into derivatives.. What does it have to do wi
» An Iraqi-American partnership to benefit from oil field gas
» The Minister of Commerce announces the distribution of the first payments of farmers’ dues for the 2
» Sudanese to members of the Iraqi community in the American city of Houston: Iraq has regained its he
» Romanski announces loans worth $50 million to support the Iraqi private sector
» Prime Minister: We plan to invest production capacities for export
» “Something happened” in Iran and no one is talking about Iraq and Syria. This is what we have so far
» Al-Sudani asks the American Baker Institute for assistance in preparing studies related to the oil m
» The Interior Ministry denies the occurrence of explosions inside Iraqi territory and diagnoses “the
» Tensions between Najaf and Baghdad over the airport... the rule of law over “military force” and the
» Al-Sudani from Washington: We agreed with Abu Dhabi on joint management of Al-Faw Port
» "Al-Party" talks about the region's elections and reveals the reason for refusing to pay salaries di
» Russia's oil is taking more of the Middle East's shares in the Indian market.. How much has Iraq los
» Early next month.. Traffic confirms that the electronic payment system is working only
» The Service Council accuses state departments of refraining from disbursing bonuses because of the m
» Electricity: The Baghdad street lighting campaign will be completed before the middle of this year
» Oil poses two conditions for moving the Doura refinery to an alternative location
» The Foreign Minister reveals the truth about his resignation and the reason for his departure to Erb
» Progress: Al-Halbousi’s acquittal has become conclusive, and his return to the presidency of Parliam
» Disagreements strike Al-Maliki's coalition over choosing the governor of Diyala
» The Union accuses Türkiye of exploiting the political situation for a ground incursion into Iraq
» The Democratic Party: Barzani is eagerly awaiting the results of Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington
» Frame: Al-Halbousi in the news and his return has become a pipe dream
» A parliamentary request to capitalize on Erdogan’s visit to Baghdad to end the water crisis
» Al-Sudani urges the US corporation Honeywell to help finish the Basra refinery
» Al-Sudani Meets with Representatives of Western Media Outlets in Washington
» Chairman of the Investment Authority signs the United Nations Convention on International Mediation
» PM: We will sign a contract to establish the Al-Faw refinery with a Chinese company
» PM arrives in Houston as part of his visit to USA
» Militia Man & Crew 4/18/24 Bush signed it and all presidents implemented it. Iraq’s funds have been
» Iraq is close to launching the electronic signature
» The Basra government discusses with an international oil company the implementation of social benefi
» The Prime Minister confirms to an American company: Gas projects in Iraq are a priority for the gove
» The Minister of Planning discusses with the World Bank mechanisms for scheduling external loans
» Oil sets the twenty-seventh of this month as the date for opening contracts for the fifth complement
» “Electronic begging”...professionalism and fabrication of stories” generates millions of dinars dail
» Al-Sudani calls on the American company Hanwell to contribute to the completion of the Basra refiner
» An American company expresses its willingness to establish LED lighting production lines in Iraq
» Including Iraq.. Iran announces the possibility of exporting 300 megawatts of “renewable electricity
» Political forces present two options to find an alternative to Al-Halbousi
» Parliament is awaiting the arrival of the budget schedules and the government is studying higher spe
» The International Monetary Fund adjusts its expectations for the development of the world’s economie
» A representative talks about the difficulty of finalizing the file of “electing the Speaker of Parli
» Work on preparing a law for diplomatic passports
» A female representative accuses the Ministry of Immigration of corruption
» Minister: Solving the Kurdistan salaries problem is the beginning of addressing other disputes betwe
» About 270 million dollars were sold by the Central Bank of Iraq in the currency auction
» The volume of trade exchange between Jordan and Iraq will exceed 800 million dinars in 2023
» Iraq signs memorandums of understanding with American companies in the fields of electricity, oil an
» The American company that manufactures the F16 expresses its readiness to implement the terms of con
» The volume of expected Qatari investments for the Iraq Fund for Development exceeds $3.5 billion
» Decrease in dollar prices in Baghdad and Erbil
» The President of the Region brings together the Kurdish parties to resolve the election file
» Al-Sudani receives in Washington the Chairman of JPMorgan
» Transport is starting to transform its ports into smart ones
» Sudanese reveals the volume of exchange with America
» "Al-Eqtisad News" publishes the memorandums of understanding signed between the Iraqi delegation and
» Al-Sudani urges an American company to contribute to establishing a chemical materials factory
» Iraq stresses the importance of Lockheed Martin's commitment to opening military aircraft maintenanc
» Iraq is on the verge of a “water disaster” by 2035
» Great satisfaction and optimism with the results of Sudanese’s visit to Washington
» Transport is beginning to adopt a plan to transform its ports into smart ones
» Completed 8,000 loan transactions at the Housing Bank
» Prime Minister: We plan to invest production capacities for export
» Transformation and partnership...a new horizon in Iraqi-American relations
» What is new in the economic dimension of the Washington visit?
» Two letters to the future
» National interests first
» Iraqi-American rapprochement...a national necessity
» Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington and the course of Iraqi-American relations
» Sudanese carries security, economic and development files to Washington