Syria is seeking to rebuild its war-torn telecommunications sector by forging international partnerships at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026, currently underway in Geneva, Switzerland. The Syrian delegation, led by Khaled Al-Homsi, director general of the Telecommunications and Post Regulatory Authority, is using the platform to attract technical support, training, and investment.
Syria’s return to global tech forums
Al-Homsi told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that the country’s participation marks a renewed engagement with international forums. “Syria is returning to these international forums,” he said, emphasizing that the outreach could help secure technical support, training, and knowledge transfer needed to rebuild the telecommunications sector and advance digital transformation.
The WSIS Forum, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and several UN agencies, runs until July 10. It brings together governments, private companies, academics, civil society groups, and international organizations to discuss digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and digital inclusion. The first two days are held at ITU headquarters, with sessions moving to Geneva’s Palexpo exhibition center from Wednesday to Friday.
Massive reconstruction costs after a decade of war
More than a decade of war has severely damaged Syria’s telecommunications infrastructure. Bombing hit major network hubs, while towers, cables, and equipment were looted or stolen. Mobile service quality deteriorated sharply as key equipment was lost or left without maintenance, and repeated power outages knocked many sites offline. Hussein Al-Masri, the former communications minister in Syria’s caretaker government, told Annahar newspaper last year that restoring the country’s telecommunications infrastructure could cost as much as $200 billion.
Gulf investment on the horizon
As Syria restores ties with governments in the region, it is expected to draw Gulf investment. Earlier this month, the Kuwait-based Zain Group was awarded a 25-year license to operate a mobile network in Syria after a competitive application process run by the Communications Ministry. This deal signals growing international confidence in Syria’s telecom market and its potential for recovery.
