Interview: Abdulsalam Haykal, Minister of Communications and IT, on rebuilding Syria’s connectivity, modernising government and opportunities in the digital economy
What role will digital infrastructure play in Syria’s reconstruction efforts and how does SilkLink advance that mission?
ABDULSALAM HAYKAL: Syria missed the years between 2011 and 2024, years in which connectivity became the oxygen of modern life. Recovering that ground requires nationwide infrastructure that allows the economy to move forward. Our mission is to build that foundation and use it to improve public services and create economic opportunity. SilkLink is an $800m project with the Saudi-owned stc Group, combining a national fibre backbone with metropolitan rings, data centres and international connections. It will provide capacity for fixed networks, mobile operators and major institutions. The corridor from the Mediterranean through Syria and Jordan into Saudi Arabia will add a diverse route between Europe and Asia, complementing existing submarine systems. It is expected to save around 30 milliseconds on key routes, which matters for applications ranging from trading and gaming to robotics and remote surgery. Open access, transit neutrality and an internet exchange point in Damascus are central to the model. Geography creates the opportunity; dependable infrastructure and trusted rules make it commercially useful.
To what extent will mobile-market reform change things for consumers and investors?
HAYKAL: Zain’s $747m commitment for a 20-year licence is a strong signal of confidence in Syria’s future. For consumers, the test will be wider coverage, reliable service and greater capacity across the country, supported by enforceable quality-of-service obligations. Our spectrum policy offers the 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands in full, each to a different operator, alongside unprecedented access in Syria to spectrum in other bands. Together, these allocations give operators the capacity to expand coverage, improve indoor reception and deliver faster services. We are in discussions with Syriatel about updating its licence so that it can meet the same quality-of-service obligations as the other operator.
How will fixed broadband and shared infrastructure improve access for users in Syria?
HAYKAL: Barq, our fibre-to-the-home programme, is under way, alongside a fixed wireless access rollout targeting 3m homes. Fixed broadband should carry far more household demand alongside mobile networks. Our ambition is mobile connectivity capable of delivering 100 Mbps and gigabit-class connections to homes and businesses. Shared wholesale networks allow service providers to compete without duplicating the underlying infrastructure. We are also developing a shared-infrastructure approach for around 6000 tower sites, with a tower company still at the planning stage. Indoor coverage in hospitals, malls, campuses and transport centres offers opportunities for specialist investors. Universal service mechanisms must help extend access to communities that commercial rollout alone will not reach.
In what ways will digital government improve public services in Syria and what will make those services more reliable for users?
HAYKAL: Digital government should reduce the time and cost of dealing with public services. A citizen should be able to complete a transaction without carrying the same documents between several different offices. A business should be able to follow an application process and know what is required of it. The foundations are digital identity, shared government platforms and cloud infrastructure, with a dedicated digital authority to coordinate standards while institutions remain responsible for their services. Postal reform and the development of a national geospatial authority support reliable addressing, delivery and public-service planning.
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