Telecommunications Development in Iraq

1
Telecommunications Development in Iraq
2
Asiacell Historical Facts

• 6 October 2003 - Asiacell awarded northern Iraq
  GSM license
• 22 December 2003 - License signed, Asiacell turns
  on commercial service in Kirkuk on the same day
• 20 January 2004 - Mosul goes into commercial
  service, 3 cities now covered by Asiacell, 2nd
  Intl earth station commissioned
• 2 May 2004 - First IP based Call Center launched
  in Sulaymaniya

3
Iraq is Progressing

• 2003 What you see is what you get
• Difficult security situation stifling economy
• Authorities not able to cater to Free Market
  Economics
• Banking system in flux
• Experienced resources very hard to find
• Service industry well behind

• Today You get more than you see
• Employment is improving economic conditions
• Independent regulatory body formed
• Banks supporting business
• Experienced Iraqis coming back home
• Customer centric service

4
Asiacell Update

• Customers - 180,000 enjoying the service
• Employees - 679, 95 of whom are Iraqi
• Network -
• 75 Sites on Air, 81 more in build
• 3 MSCs, 3 IN platforms, one in each city
• 500,000 customer capacity of equipment already in
  Iraq
• Interconnect - Completed with fixed network and
  central operator
• Roaming - 76 agreements signed, testing completed
  with Etisalat, Turkcell, Syriatel. Roaming live
  in June.

5
Distributed Network Design
Signalling link to UAE for International Roaming
2 x 64KBit signalling link
2 x 64KBit signalling link
Dahuk Switch
1E1 Link from Sulimaniya to Mosul
1E1 Link from Mosul to Sulimaniya
16E1 International Gateway
Irbil Switch
8E1 International Gateway
Sulimaniya Switch
Mosul Switch
SDH Highway With 1E1 drop and insert for radio
base stations
4E1 International Gateway
Kirkuk Switch
Tikrit BSC
6
Developing Iraqs Telecom Infrastructure

• Internet
• Wireless backbone
• Push to talk
• Financial Services
• Coordination in the Regulatory Environment

7
Internet

• In 2005 Mobile penetration will exceed fixed line
• Internet utilizing the mobile Network (GPRS/EDGE)
  will increase internet reach
• An opportunity to shortcut Internet development
  in Iraq
• Lower entry barriers encourages new consumers
• A big door for eBusiness and eCommerce
  development

8
Wireless backbone

• Investment to connect the GSM Network Elements in
  the different cities can be utilized to transfer
  data
• Customers Banks, Service Companies, Govt
  offices
• High Speed links will be available intra and
  inter cities
• Via SDH PDH which are in deployment
• Accelerated Economy progress will depend highly
  on the availability of such links
• Connectivity will help improve the security
  situation

9
Push to Talk

• Security, Enterprises and SMEs have a great need
  for Push to Talk services
• The tremendous re-building and logistical support
  being expended to re-build Iraq would be
  facilitated with Push to Talk
• Push to Talk can easily be rolled out as an
  overlay on a GSM network

10
Financial Services

• Lack of credit history organizations will limit
  the penetration of credit cards for the
  foreseeable future
• A mobile operator can easily act as micro/mini
  payment broker utilizing the prepaid
  infrastructure
• Ease of payment fuels the economy
• Businesses and the banking system get connected
  creating an opportunity for banks to act as
  clearing agents

11
Regulatory Environment

• Iraq is poised to be at the forefront of an
  advanced regulatory environment
• Regulator recently appointed
• Encouragement to introduce new products
  services
• Speed, time flexibility are key, but things are
  moving

12
Thank You