Sitting in front of computer terminals, young people send and receive email at an internet cafe in central Baghdad. internet cafes have become a more popular point for communications as violence has curtailed travel inside the country. This cafe charges less than 1 USD per hour for internet use.
Sitting in front of computer terminals, young people send and receive email at an internet cafe in central Baghdad. internet cafes have become a more popular point for communications as violence has curtailed travel inside the country. This cafe charges less than 1 USD per hour for internet use.
Sitting in front of computer terminals, young people send and receive email at an internet cafe in central Baghdad. internet cafes have become a more popular point for communications as violence has curtailed travel inside the country. This cafe charges less than 1 USD per hour for internet use.
Sitting in front of computer terminals, young people send and receive email at an internet cafe in central Baghdad. internet cafes have become a more popular point for communications as violence has c

More Iraqis become tech-savvy as younger generation get mobile


  • English
  • Arabic

Young men smoking sheesha pose for a picture at the Facebook Cafe in Baghdad. The picture is uploaded on to the cafe's Facebook page for the rest of the world to see and "like".

The cafe, although in no way affiliated to Facebook, marks the popularity of the social network in Iraq, one of its fastest growing markets. Ten years ago, amid the start of United States-led invasion, the average Iraqi did not own a mobile phone, had no internet and no satellite channels. A decade on, mobile penetration is at 83 per cent. Internet penetration, while still low, is growing and satellite channels number in their hundreds.

According to a report from BuddeComm, the telecommunications sector is one of the country's most dynamic. Rebuilding efforts have focused largely on improving network access and heavier government investment in infrastructure has brought about an open and competitive telecoms market in Iraq. It estimates there are 3.3 million internet users in the country, about 10 per cent of the population, up from 5 per cent in 2011. These are users that access the internet from cafes, schools, universities, work and home. Broadband penetration is still below 1 per cent and PC penetration is at 23 per cent.

Yahsat subsidiary Yahclick launched its satellite broadband offerings in December and is already seeing growth rates of 70 to 80 per cent per month. The appetite for the internet among Iraqis seems insatiable.

"What we're seeing is already helping the economy," said Shawket Ahmed, the chairman of Yahclick.

"The entire country is covered and that's really helping to boost economic activity and enable social development."

Politicians have taken to Facebook and Twitter to communicate directly with the people.

Nouri Al Maliki, the prime minister, has his own official YouTube channel. Religious and sectarian leaders have their own websites, posting their ideologies and messages to followers.

According to Alexa, a Web analytics company, Facebook is now the most visited website in Iraq, followed by YouTube and Google. Almost 10 per cent of the population is now on Facebook, which has both Arabic and Kurdish language capabilities.x

"Most Iraqis use Facebook. Even if they can't use the internet very well, they know how to use Facebook," said Tareq Al Omairiwho is pursuing a master's in microbiology.

"Before, some people used to see the internet as a bad thing. Now it is seen as a tool. Even extremists use the internet for their own purposes and to spread ideas."

Internet cafes are filled with young men playing online games or chatting with friends and families in other countries via Skype. Some befriend girls on social networks and "date" them online, away from the eyes of social taboos.

Facebook in particular has been noted for enabling marriages but it has a dark side, too, according to one lawyer based in Erbil.

"Facebook has made extramarital relations much easier and technology has exacerbated the problem," he says.

"An increasing number of women are being blackmailed by their lovers who threaten to expose indecent images and videos of them. This sort of thing didn't happen before."

The Iraqi government is one of the few in the region that does not filter the Web, enabling easy access to violent and pornographic content. Out of the top 20 most-visited websites, adult content features frequently.

A young, largely unemployed population is turning to the internet to sidestep religious and social conservatism.

Iraqis now have access to the outside world and to ideas that lie both within and beyond their borders. While the internet can enable ease of doing business and improve the economy, the effect in Iraq so far seems to be more societal.

"The internet has reached a level where we cannot live without it," says Mr Al Omairi.

"It is essential and a way of life now."

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

The biog

Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly 

Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo

Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.

Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,

She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.

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The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8 
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
Torque 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k

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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

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7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m

Winner: Equilateral, James Doyle, Charles Hills.

8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m

Winner Laser Show, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor.

8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner Glorious Journey, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.

9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

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Tips for taking the metro

- set out well ahead of time

- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines

- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on

- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers

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Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands

50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

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United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

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Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt

Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho

Singles match John Cena v Triple H

Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba

 

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Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Notable Yas events in 2017/18

October 13-14 KartZone (complimentary trials)

December 14-16 The Gulf 12 Hours Endurance race

March 5 Yas Marina Circuit Karting Enduro event

March 8-9 UAE Rotax Max Challenge

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5