Iraq
Iraq reaches the global submarine cable network through two active systems, though no landing points are yet documented — leaving the precise shape of its undersea connectivity still being mapped.
Connectivity at a glance
- Cable systems
- 2active
- Landing points
- 0
- Resilience score
- 18
Cable systems serving Iraq
| Cable | Status | Ready for service | Length | Design capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOG2 | active | — | — | — |
| Gulf Bridge International | active | — | — | — |
Landing points
Landing point records for Iraq are being compiled.
Connecting to the Submarine Network
Iraq's position in Western Asia places it within reach of the Gulf's busy cable corridors, and two active submarine cable systems — FOG2 and Gulf Bridge International — are documented as serving the country. Neither ready-for-service dates nor system lengths are confirmed in the current register, and no Iraqi landing points have been formally documented, which limits what can be said with precision about how and where these cables physically come ashore.
What the cable list does establish is that Iraq is not wholly dependent on a single system. Two distinct active cables represent at least a baseline of route diversity, reducing — though not eliminating — the risk that a single fault could sever international capacity entirely. That said, two cables is a thin margin for a country of Iraq's population and geographic scale, and the redundancy picture depends heavily on whether the two systems share common segments, branching points, or landing infrastructure. Without that detail confirmed, resilience cannot be assessed with confidence.
Geography and Transit
Iraq is largely landlocked in practical cable terms. Its coastline is confined to a narrow window on the northern Persian Gulf near the Shatt al-Arab waterway — one of the shortest seaboard frontages of any Gulf state. That geography shapes everything: cable routes serving Iraq must navigate the Gulf's shallow, heavily trafficked waters, where anchor strikes and fishing activity have historically posed risks to cable operators across the region.
The limited coastline also means Iraq may depend in part on terrestrial links to connect its population centres — particularly Baghdad and the northern regions — to any cable landing station in the south. The interplay between submarine landings and overland distribution networks is a practical reality that amplifies the importance of domestic infrastructure alongside the cables themselves.
State of the Register
The Coral Sea Cables register for Iraq remains incomplete. Landing point data has not yet been confirmed, and technical details for both FOG2 and Gulf Bridge International — including lengths, ready-for-service years, and ownership structures — are still being compiled. As that information is verified and added, a clearer picture of Iraq's capacity, resilience, and routing options will emerge. Readers with primary source data are encouraged to contribute through the site's submission process.