profile

Country Snapshot: Iraq

Of all the territories I have covered so far in my series of snapshots outlining the Internet and telecoms characteristics of each and every country, Iraq most certainly has the lowest Internet penetration so far — a miniscule one percent of its 28m population; it looks like 'shock and awe' did a pretty good job of destroying what little infrastructure they had whilst Saddam still ruled the roost.

Having said that, we have paid webmasters a total of $5,781.35 for sales originating from that country so far. This is not a huge number, admittedly, but it is not too shabby when one considers that 99 percent of its population do not even have access to the web at this time. Now that a semblance of normality returns to this stricken country, there is only one way for this market to go and that's up, up and away.

As for credit card penetration, this mirrors Iraq's Internet: Like most countries in the Middle East, Iraq has long been a cash economy, and card ownership there is negligible.

However, one thing that many Iraqis have access to is a phone. Prior to the conflict, 1.2 million Iraqis subscribed to landline telephone service and much of the telecommunication network was centralized in Baghdad. However, many of the network's switches were damaged during the conflict, and service was disrupted.

When it comes to mobile, just like in the former USSR countries in Eastern Europe just after the Berlin Wall fell back in 1989, Iraq is essentially starting from scratch. Launched in July 2007, Mobitel Iraq is the first mobile 3G operator there.

Since Iraq has no domestic 'premium rate' numbers yet, when a surfer from there calls for a password to enjoy the forbidden fruits of your member's area, he must make a regular International Direct Dial (IDD) call overseas to get it. Since phone companies worldwide are bound by treaty to terminate each other's calls, Iraq Telecom must pay a settlement fee to the telco in the country where the call was 'terminate.' The accrued revenue must, therefore, be split with two phone companies, which is why the payouts are not high (we pay 50 cents per password sold, or eight cents per minute), but this is practically the only way to monetize traffic from Iraq and all countries in that region.

And if you think that the majority of those 10k passwords we sold in Iraq thus far were to horny soldiers, you are mistaken; Since our default call-to-action in Iraq is in Arabic, about 90 percent of the transactions made have been in that language. The remaining 10 percent either had an English browser, or simply took advantage of our 'revert to English' feature.

It is safe to assume that this would have been one of 'our boys,' and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking those of you that use us as a processor in helping make their life whilst serving there just that little bit more bearable!

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

WIA Profile: Salima

When Salima first entered the adult space in her mid-20s, becoming a power player wasn’t even on her radar. She was simply looking to learn. Over the years, however, her instinct for strategy, trust in her teams and commitment to creator-first innovation led her from the trade show floor to the executive suite.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

How the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act Could Impact Adult Businesses

Congress is considering a bill that would change the well-settled definition of obscenity and create extensive new risks for the adult industry. The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act, introduced by Sen. Mike Lee, makes a mockery of the First Amendment and should be roundly rejected.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

What US Sites Need to Know About UK's Online Safety Act

In a high-risk space like the adult industry, overlooking or ignoring ever-changing rules and regulations can cost you dearly. In the United Kingdom, significant change has now arrived in the form of the Online Safety Act — and failure to comply with its requirements could cost merchants millions of dollars in fines.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Understanding the MATCH List and How to Avoid Getting Blacklisted

Business is booming, sales are steady and your customer base is growing. Everything seems to be running smoothly — until suddenly, Stripe pulls the plug. With one cold, automated email, your payment processing is shut down. No warning, no explanation.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Leah Koons

If you’ve been to an industry event lately, odds are you’ve heard Leah Koons even before you’ve seen her. As Fansly’s director of marketing, Koons helps steer one of the fastest-growing creator platforms on the web.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

What France's New Law Means for Age Verification Worldwide

When France implemented its Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law on April 11, it marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing global debate surrounding online safety and access to adult content.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

From Tariffs to Trends: Staying Resilient in a Shaky Online Adult Market

Whenever I check in with clients these days, I encounter the same concerns. For many, business has not quite bounced back after the typical post-holiday-season slowdown. Instead, consumers have been holding back due to the economic uncertainty around the Trump administration’s new tariffs and their impact on prices.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Optimizing Payment Strategies for High Ticket Sales

Payment processing for more expensive items, such as those exceeding $1,000 per order, can create unique challenges. For adult businesses, those challenges are magnified. Increased fraud risk, elevated chargeback ratios and heavier scrutiny from banks and processors are only the beginning.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Lexi Morin

Lexi Morin’s journey into the adult industry began with a Craigslist ad and a leap of faith. In 2011, fresh-faced and ambitious, she was scrolling through job ads on Craigslist when she stumbled upon a listing for an assistant makeup artist.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Still Rocking: The Hun Celebrates 30 Years in the Game

In the ever-changing landscape of adult entertainment, The Hun’s Yellow Pages stands out for its endurance. As one of the internet’s original fixtures, literally nearly as old as the web itself, The Hun has functioned as a living archive for online adult content, quietly maintaining its relevance with an interface that feels more nostalgic than flashy.

Jackie Backman ·
Show More