Progress, Security, and Needs
Progress, Security, and NeedsStrategic Vision & Priorities
Q: Could you briefly outline the top three priorities you set for the Ministry at the start of your mandate, and where each stands today in terms of measurable results?
The first priority was infrastructure. Syria ranks among the lowest globally in broadband and mobile connectivity, and this required urgent intervention. Infrastructure projects take time, but the key was to launch them and put them on track. We issued requests for information (RFIs) for two landmark projects: SilkLink, a public-private partnership (PPP) to build Syria’s new national backbone and carry internet traffic between Europe and Asia, and Barq, a PPP to roll out fiber-to-the-home. Both attracted major investors, and we engaged the global consulting firm Arthur D. Little to help evaluate the offers received.
The second priority was mobile connectivity. Syria remains in the bottom five globally, making it essential to reform and upgrade the two existing mobile licenses. After years of underinvestment, networks must now catch up with the needs of the 21st century, which has driven a surge in demand for mobile internet services. We have resolved key business and legal legacies and expect the transition to begin in Q4 2025. In addition to meeting citizens’ needs, this will provide a unique investment opportunity for qualified international operators.
The third priority is digital services. These may appear as technical tools on the surface, but in reality they are building blocks of dignity and quality of life. No citizen should have to wait in line, travel long distances, or pay speed money for paperwork. We want to change this for Syrians in an efficient and sustainable way. To achieve this, we are building the soft infrastructure—standards, digital signatures, interoperability layers—and establishing a national technology company to deliver these services in cooperation with regional and international firms. This initiative will also help us retain and mobilize Syrian tech talent, both at home and abroad, many of whom are eager to contribute to the country’s rebirth.
We have pursued all these priorities under the shadow of US sanctions, which continue to be crippling for the technology sector. Our approach has been to prepare the ground for the day these restrictions are lifted, which we hope will be soon. Encouragingly, our American partners—Ambassador Thomas Barrack and his team—have shown receptiveness and cooperation in recognizing that restoring US and global technology services to Syrians is not just a matter of access, but a driver of economic participation, growth, and long-term stability. We are not just repairing the past; we are laying the backbone of Syria’s digital future.
Q: For years, successive governments have spoken about digital transformation—and your Ministry has announced ambitious new platforms and services. Yet the reality for most Syrians is still the same: internet speeds are abysmal, electricity supply is scarce, and online penetration remains low. How do you reconcile this gap between vision and reality, and what concrete steps are you taking to address these basic necessities for digital transformation? Can the two run in tandem?
Vision is about creating a new reality, so gaps are natural. Large projects take time, but we are also working on immediate remedies. The challenge lies in fundamental infrastructure limitations. Imagine a thousand people queuing at a kiosk: adding two more kiosks will make only a minimal difference, but serving everyone properly requires a larger building, many more kiosks, and staff—and that takes time. That is where we are now: managing the immediate load while building the larger system.
Electricity is a critical factor. Antennas and switching centers require power. As supply improves, we are upgrading centers with modern hardware that consumes 75% less energy. Step by step, these efforts will accumulate and lead to a tipping point that Syrians will feel in their daily lives.
Q: The Ministry has been active in international engagement, including rejoining the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA – the industry association that represents mobile network operators worldwide) and signing MoUs with multiple countries. How will these partnerships translate into concrete technology transfers or infrastructure upgrades?
Technology is global by nature—standards, platforms, and networks are interconnected. Syria must be part of this ecosystem. Engagement with GSMA and other international partners strengthens our value proposition by combining Syria’s talent, vision, and geographic position with access to global standards, training, and technology. These partnerships form the foundation for infrastructure upgrades and future investment, while also giving Syria a seat at the table. Through global engagement, Syria is transforming its talent and geography into a digital advantage.
Infrastructure & Market Development
Q: Several flagship infrastructure projects have been launched—such as Barq Net (stable, high-speed internet), Silk Link (regional data corridor), and Ougarit 2 (submarine cable upgrade). How do these integrate into the government’s broader economic strategy, and what safeguards are in place to ensure they don’t suffer the delays, cost overruns, and opaque contracting that plagued similar projects in the past?
All three are structured as public-private partnerships, financed and executed with private capital. Once completed, they will position Syria as a global connectivity hub, with more international cables landing on our coast and the potential to host data centers for companies such as Google, Meta, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). We are inviting the world to connect through us. To attract such players, proper governance is essential, including robust data protection laws. To this end, we are embedding governance and transparency mechanisms into the PPP framework to ensure efficiency and accountability. Our collaboration with Arthur D. Little and leading international law firms is part of this effort, aligning these projects with global best practices.
Governance, Security & Regulation
Q: The Ministry has committed to personal data protection since early 2025. What enforcement actions have you taken against violators so far? Can we expect a public compliance report to be released in the near future?
No commitment has been made. The content of the link was misunderstood. However, we are developing a data protection policy, which will be shared for public consultation in the coming weeks.
Q: The National Cybersecurity teams have issued repeated alerts about phishing and WhatsApp account takeovers. What is your ministry doing about this and when will a unified national incident reporting and response center be operational for citizens and businesses?
We are building cybersecurity capacity at multiple levels: legislation, regulation, service delivery, and execution. The National Information Security Center is being strengthened through investments in SIEM, SOC, and workforce training. As new critical infrastructure comes online, the demand for robust cybersecurity protection will grow, and we are preparing accordingly.
Q: Given widespread public concern over the security and service quality of the Sham Cash platform, and the fact that it creates a single point of failure for public-sector salaries while being hosted outside Damascus on a Türkiye-linked network, what oversight role does the Ministry play to ensure both system resilience and data security?
We have formed a joint commission with the Central Bank to review the entire fintech sector in preparation for establishing a dedicated regulator. Our role is to ensure compliance with technology and data security, while the Central Bank oversees financial regulation. Every platform will be required to meet global standards of reliability, efficiency, security, transparency, and AML compliance.
Public Perception Over Sensitive Issues
Q: There have been multiple reports and online testimonies alleging the confiscation of Starlink (foreign satellite-based internet service provider) equipment inside Syria. Given that overall connectivity in Syria remains poor—and that Starlink could serve as a good interim alternative— is the Ministry involved in these seizures, and if so, how does that align with your stated goal of expanding connectivity and bridging the digital divide?
We are open to all communication technologies, provided they comply with national regulatory requirements. Projects like SilkLink will also enable Syria to host global ground stations. We have already held constructive discussions with SpaceX in Damascus and expect Starlink to officially enter the market in due course. Its role will be to serve as a supplementary option for specific users, not as a substitute for national infrastructure. By nature, the service cannot be a universal solution due to cost and other limitations. The reported seizures targeted smugglers exploiting demand—not legitimate users.
Q: In July, the Ministry attributed telecom outages in As-Suwayda to logistical fuel shortages. Many residents, however, argue this was politically motivated. At the same time, there has also been unexplained, unreported port-filtering observed at the national level. How do you respond to these accusations?
Connectivity issues in As-Suwayda were purely technical and logistical. Any suggestion of political intent is misinformation.
Foreign Support
Q: If you had three requests for the international community to support your ministry, what would they be, and how urgent are they?
First, the removal of all export controls that block Syria’s access to essential technologies.
Second, the return of global platforms—such as Google, Apple, Meta, AWS, Microsoft, and others—which will enable Syrians to reconnect with the digital economy.
Third, support for capacity-building in Syria’s technology sector.
Syria presents a unique opportunity: a large, educated, entrepreneurial, and productive population eager to recover after 15 years of isolation, and a strategic location that connects continents. Companies that engage now will not only gain access to a promising market but also leave a lasting legacy by contributing to one of the most transformative political, economic, and digital transitions of modern history.