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| native_name = وفا تيليكوم
| native_name_lang = ar
| founded = 2017
| hq_location = Abd Al-Rahman Shahbander Street
| hq_location_city = [[Damascus]]
| area_served = {{flag|Syria}}
| key_people = SABA
| products = [[Mobile network operator]], [[GSM]], [[3G]], [[4G]] / [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[5G]]
| services = Telecommunications & Data
| website = {{URL|wafa-telecom.com/en/}}
}}<!-- Important, do not remove this line before article has been created. -->
'''Wafa Telecom'''({{lang-ar|وفا تيليكوم
}}) is the third mobile operator in [[Syria]]. The other two being [[Syriatel]] and [[MTN Syria]].
It is granted the exclusive rights to operate [[5G]] in Syria. They performed the first test of the technology in 2023.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-06-08 |title=بحضور نجل الرئيس الأسد...إطلاق تقنية "جي 5" للمرة الأولى في سوريا... صور وفيديو |trans-title=In the presence of President Al-Assad's son...the launch of "5G" technology for the first time in Syria...photos and video |url=https://sarabic.ae/20230608/%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%AF%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D9%8A-5-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1--1077876359.html |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=[[Sputnik (news agency)|Sputnik Arabic]] |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The first 5G test in Syria |url=https://wafa-telecom.com/en/the-first-5g-test-in-syria/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Wafa Telecom |language=en}}</ref>
They were granted mobile license in 2022.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Syria awards third mobile telecoms licence to Wafa -state media |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/syria-awards-third-mobile-telecoms-licence-wafa-state-media-2022-02-21/}}</ref>▼
== History ==
According to Syrian Official Gazette, Wafa was established as a company in 2017 with a stated capital of 10 billion Syrian Pounds (SYP).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=JI |first=enab04 |date=2021-06-20 |title=Wafa Telecom: Asma al-Assad pulling the rug out from under Rami Makhlouf |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2021/06/wafa-telecom-asma-al-assad-pulling-the-rug-out-from-under-rami-makhlouf/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Enab Baladi |language=en-US}}</ref>
▲They were granted mobile license in 2022.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Syria awards third mobile telecoms licence to Wafa -state media |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/syria-awards-third-mobile-telecoms-licence-wafa-state-media-2022-02-21/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=rafah |date=2022-02-21 |title=3rd mobile network operator launched in Syria |url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=264197 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Syrian Arab News Agency |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Ownership ==
Syrian minister of telecommunication claimed that the owners are completley national. <ref name=":2" />
Reuters reported that Influential businessmen with close ties to government officials are key investors in the company are the owners<ref name=":0" />
7al reproted that it could be linked to Asmaa al assad. <ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=محمد |first=عبير |date=2021-11-13 |title="وفا تيليكوم" بديل "سيريتل".. السيطرة لأسماء الأسد؟ |url=https://7al.net/2021/11/13/%D9%88%D9%81%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AF%D8%AF-%D8%B1%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%A3-%D8%A3%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84/aber_mo/news/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=الحل نت |language=ar}}</ref>
syria tv also <ref>{{Cite web |title=مصدر يكشف لتلفزيون سوريا تفاصيل عن المشغل الثالث للخلوي بسوريا |url=https://www.syria.tv/%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%B4%D9%81-%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%BA%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%88%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7}}</ref>
According to an [[Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project|OOCRP]] investigation revealed a connection between Wafa and Iranian revolutionary guard. Through a malayasian company directly owned by IRGC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sabbagh |first=Rana |last2=Dihmis |first2=Lara |last3=Shahrour |first3=Sami |last4=Shaar |first4=Karam |last5=Dziadosz |first5=Alexander |last6=Greenwald |first6=Jacob |date=2022-12-09 |title=Syria’s Newest Mobile Operator Has A Hidden Link to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/syrias-newest-mobile-operator-has-a-hidden-link-to-irans-revolutionary-guard |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=OCCRP |language=en}}</ref>▼
▲According to an [[Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project|OOCRP]] investigation revealed a connection between Wafa and Iranian revolutionary guard. Through a malayasian company directly owned by IRGC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sabbagh |first=Rana |last2=Dihmis |first2=Lara |last3=Shahrour |first3=Sami |last4=Shaar |first4=Karam |last5=Dziadosz |first5=Alexander |last6=Greenwald |first6=Jacob |date=2022-12-09 |title=Syria’s Newest Mobile Operator Has A Hidden Link to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/syrias-newest-mobile-operator-has-a-hidden-link-to-irans-revolutionary-guard |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=OCCRP |language=en}}</ref>
The head joint commission for economic cooperation between Iran and Syria mentioned that Iran is launching a mobile operator in Syria soon. But didn't mention Wafa specifically.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-31 |title=ورود سیم کارتهای ایرانی به زودی در سوریه |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/1402050905394/%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%85-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%87 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=ایسنا |language=fa}}</ref>
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