Iraq gets broadband-connected

EE Times Asia

Alcatel-Lucent has been awarded a contract by Hi Link Telecom Ltd for the deployment of its greenfield wireless broadband network in Al Anbar province in the West of Iraq.

Alcatel-Lucent's wireless technology will enable Hi Link Telecom Ltd to deliver high-quality voice and broadband data services with superior reliability, network capacity and performance, enabling the new operator to respond efficiently and rapidly to customers' requirements and contribute to improving communications in the country. CDMA/EV-DO wireless technology offers an attractive way to support last mile broadband access in communities, where wireline access is difficult to deploy or prohibitively expensive.

"Being a new telecoms service provider in the country, it was critical for us to select a partner that can help us establish and maintain a high-quality wireless network that can offer a great experience for our customers," said Tarik Alabdullah, Ceo, Hi Link. "We are confident that Alcatel-Lucent's first-class products and services will allow us to quickly deliver reliable and innovative communications services in this underserved area of Iraq."

Alcatel-Lucent's cost-efficient solutions will enable Hi Link Telecom to keep pace with the demands of a rapidly expanding wireless services market in Iraq and provide users with a range of new applications and useful services, while at the same time offering the flexibility to introduce next-generation broadband wireless technologies, such as Long Term Evolution, in the future with a smooth evolution path to meet the operator's market needs.

"The agreement we are signing today with Hi Link Telecom is significant because of the scope of solutions it involves, meeting the operator's demand for near-term expansion and providing a means to sustain growth in the future. The CDMA/EV-DO technology that we are providing offers an ideal means for wireless carriers to add new services quickly while optimizing the operating costs," said Vincenzo Nesci, president of Alcatel-Lucent for Middle East and Africa.