Wafa Telecom: Difference between revisions

'''Wafa Telecom''' ({{lang-ar|وفا تيليكوم}}) is the third mobile operator in [[Syria]]. The other two being [[Syriatel]] and [[MTN Syria]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Iran Ramps Up Pressure on Damascus for Debt Recovery via Investments |url=https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/4990626-iran-ramps-pressure-damascus-debt-recovery-investments |access-date=2024-07-10 |archive-date=2024-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508050155/https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/4990626-iran-ramps-pressure-damascus-debt-recovery-investments |url-status=live }}</ref>

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 |archive-date=2024-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301164101/http://wafa-telecom.com/en/the-first-5g-test-in-syria/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The company plans to build 750 radio stations by the start of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=سلوم |first=رامي |date=2022-08-11 |editor-last=دحدل |editor-first=قسيم |title="وفا تيليكوم" تفتح باب التوظيف وتعتزم تركيب 750 محطة خاصة بداية العام المقبل |trans-title="Wafa Telecom" opens the door to employment and intends to install 750 stations at by the beginning of next year |url=https://newspaper.albaathmedia.sy/2022/08/11/%D9%88%D9%81%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AD-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B8%D9%8A%D9%81-%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B2%D9%85-%D8%AA/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=[[Al-Ba'ath]] |language=ar |archive-date=2024-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710204058/https://newspaper.albaathmedia.sy/2022/08/11/%D9%88%D9%81%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AD-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B8%D9%8A%D9%81-%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B2%D9%85-%D8%AA/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They aim to acquire 1.5 million users in three years and cover 80% of Syria in 5 years and 90% of it in 10 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=خازم |first=بلال |date=2022-05-31 |title=المشغل الثالث ملتزم بموعد بدء خدماته ... سابا لـ«الوطن»: نطمح للوصول إلى 1.5 مليون مشترك خلال ثلاث سنوات .. يستطيع المشتركون الجدد الاحتفاظ بأرقامهم ذاتها |trans-title=The third operator is committed to the start date of its services... Saba to Al-Watan: We aspire to reach 1.5 million subscribers within three years. New subscribers can keep their same numbers |url=https://alwatan.sy/archives/305707 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=[[Al-Watan (Syria)]] |language=ar |archive-date=2024-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302195634/https://alwatan.sy/archives/305707 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Wafa was established in 2017.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=al-Mahmoud |first=Hussam |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 |archive-date=2024-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302054054/https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2021/06/wafa-telecom-asma-al-assad-pulling-the-rug-out-from-under-rami-makhlouf/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 21, 2022, Syria's telecommunications authority granted the company a mobile license. It is the third company in Syria to get that license.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Mohamed |first1=Moataz |last2=Makieh |first2=Kinda |last3=al-Khalidi |first3=Suleiman |date=2022-02-21 |editor-last=Baum |editor-first=Bernadette |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/ |website=[[Reuters]] |access-date=2024-07-05 |archive-date=2022-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223191616/https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/syria-awards-third-mobile-telecoms-licence-wafa-state-media-2022-02-21/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=al-Allouni |first1=Rafah |last2=al-Jazaeri |first2=Ruaa |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 |archive-date=2022-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922084019/http://sana.sy/en/?p=264197 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Two senior businessmen told [[Reuters]] that {{Inline quote single|Influential businessmen with close ties to government officials are key investors in the company}}.<ref name=":0" /> Other various local sources also reported that company is directly linked with the presidential palace.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=أبو سهيل |first=فتحي |date=2020-12-20 |title=مصدر يكشف لتلفزيون سوريا تفاصيل عن المشغل الثالث للخلوي بسوريا |trans-title=A source reveals to Syria TV details about the third cellular operator in Syria |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 |website=[[Syria TV (Turkey)|Syria TV]] |language=ar |access-date=2024-07-05 |archive-date=2022-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001232627/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 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=محمد |first=عبير |date=2021-11-13 |title="وفا تيليكوم" بديل "سيريتل".. السيطرة لأسماء الأسد؟ |trans-title="Wafa Telecom" is an alternative to "Syriatel"... is it under control of Asma al-Assad? |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 |archive-date=2023-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607185004/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/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

An investigation between [[Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project]] (OOCRP) and the Observatory of Political and Economic Networks revealed a hidden link between the company and [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|Iran Revolutionary Guard]]. Arabian Business Company (ABC), which owns 52% of Wafa Telecom, is itself owned by a Malaysian company called Tioman Golden Treasure. This Malaysian company is owned by Iranian Azim Monzavi which is sanctioned by the U.S which described him as {{Inline quote single|An IRGC official who facilitates oil sales}}.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last1=Sabbagh |first1=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=[[Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project]] |language=en |archive-date=2024-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404073443/https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/syrias-newest-mobile-operator-has-a-hidden-link-to-irans-revolutionary-guard |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sallon |first=Hélène |date=2022-12-12 |title=Syria's newest cell phone operator is under the control of Iran's Revolutionary Guards |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/12/12/syria-s-third-cell-phone-operator-is-under-the-control-of-the-iranian-revolutionary-guards_6007402_4.html |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=[[Le Monde]] |language=en |archive-date=2023-06-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617055722/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/12/12/syria-s-third-cell-phone-operator-is-under-the-control-of-the-iranian-revolutionary-guards_6007402_4.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

While Iran has not officially acknowledged ownership of Wafa, it signed a contract for cooperation in communication (a mobile network operator) with Syria in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=R. |first1=Melhem |last2=H. |first2=Zain |last3=H. |first3=Said |date=2017-01-17 |title=Syria and Iran sign five contracts on economic cooperation |url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=98377 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=[[Syrian Arab News Agency]] |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710204107/https://sana.sy/en/?p=98377 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharafedin |first=Bozorgmehr |date=2017-01-17 |editor-last=Goodman |editor-first=David |title=Iran to operate mobile service network in Syria |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/iran-to-operate-mobile-service-network-in-syria-idUSKBN1511QD/ |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> The head of the joint commission for economic cooperation between Iran and Syria mentioned in 2023 that Iran is launching a mobile operator in Syria soon. But didn't confirm whether it is Wafa or another company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=انتظاری |first=مجید |date=2023-07-31 |title=ورود سیم کارت‌های ایرانی به زودی در سوریه |trans-title=Arrival of Iranian SIM cards soon in Syria |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=[[Iranian Students' News Agency]] |language=fa |archive-date=2023-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813113811/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 |url-status=live }}</ref>