National shutdown
The Iraqi Government ordered the suspension of Internet services on the morning of 31 August 2026, between 6:20 and 7:10 local time (+3 UTC). This is part of a series of expected shutdowns during the public school exams.
- Total Duration 50 minutes
Iraq
- Population
- 47,020,774
Freedom House rates Internet freedom as Partly Free
Local impact
This series covers the second round of the Iraq Middle Schools Exam Schedule, which runs until 12 September 2026.
It's worth noting that this time, the shutdown duration is only 50 minutes, compared to 90 minutes in the previous series between 13 June and 4 July 2026.
Related documentation
Local media reported that Iraq's Ministry of Communications announced on 19 May that it will suspend Internet access during the national Middle School examinations.
In a video message, Minister Mustafa Sanad, Iraq's Minister of Communication, confirmed the shutdown and vowed to develop a digital system that would eliminate the need for centralized exam distribution and, by extension, the need to shut down Internet access on exam days.
Other supporting information
Cloudflare Radar and IODA data showing the shutdown affecting Iraqi networks.
