Iraqi lawmaker urges regulator to require 30-day mobile plan validity

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A member of the Iraqi parliament has called on the country’s media and communications regulator to require mobile operators to set monthly plan validity at no less than 30 days, saying current 28-day cycles force consumers to renew packages more frequently and amount to financial exploitation. Mikdad Ismail, a member of parliament, said companies including Zain Iraq and Asiacell apply package durations of 28 days instead of a full calendar month. Under the current practice, subscribers renew their plans 13 times a year rather than 12, an arrangement he described as clear financial exploitation of Iraqi consumers. Ismail said he has formally submitted the issue to the Media and Communications Commission in writing. He asked the regulator to compel the operators to align package validity with a calendar month of at least 30 days and to impose legal penalties on companies that fail to comply. The lawmaker added that he would continue to follow the case until subscriber rights are protected and the practice is ended. No response from the operators or the regulator was immediately available.