The Chairman of the Media and Communications Commission, Nofal Abu Ragheef, announced today, Wednesday, the Commission’s readiness to ensure communication and media coverage during the Ashura visitation season. He also affirmed the implementation of unprecedented technical and field measures this year to enhance the quality of telecommunications and visitor services.
Abu Ragheef stated during a press conference held in the province that,
“The Commission began implementing an expanded technical and engineering plan from the first day of Muharram, which will continue through the peak of the visitation on the 10th of Muharram and extend into the Arbaeen visitation and beyond.”
He explained that,
“The total number of communication towers covering Karbala Governorate exceeds 1,253 towers, all of which have been fully upgraded with modern equipment being used for the first time.”
He continued,
“This year, the Commission added 106 new permanent towers and 73 mobile towers in Karbala and along the roads leading to it,”
emphasizing that,
“The permanent towers will remain in place to support the telecommunications infrastructure in the governorate.”
He confirmed the installation of
“75 new smart cells in the old city, particularly in the area between the two holy shrines, which feature high-quality specifications and advanced capabilities to strengthen the networks and ensure continuous communication.”
He also noted that
“All telecommunications systems in Holy Karbala have been fully replaced with the latest technologies.”
He added that,
“Mobile phone companies are now ready to operate using 4G technology and are prepared to transition to 5G in the future, which marks a qualitative leap in optimizing technical and human resources.”
He pointed out the implementation of
“Smart learning models that predict areas of congestion in advance based on previous usage data, allowing for proactive measures to expand capacities and reduce pressure on the networks.”
He stressed that,
“The Commission has also deployed technical teams and advanced monitoring systems to oversee the radio frequency spectrum and prevent interference, supported by engineering and technical staff in the Karbala and Najaf offices, along with personnel from Baghdad who have formed operations rooms and on-the-ground shifts.”
He clarified,
“We are in daily communication with the Prime Minister’s Office and the relevant security agencies regarding cyber and frequency-related issues, and we affirm that these efforts align with the government’s directives to ensure full coverage of religious events.”
He concluded by stating that,
“The Commission, through its offices in Holy Karbala, Najaf al-Ashraf, and its headquarters in Baghdad, is fully prepared to handle both the Ashura and Arbaeen visitations,”
while praising the cooperation of the Governor of Holy Karbala in supporting these efforts.