Jordan's Fastlink has been awarded a contract to operate and manage the cellular phone network in Southern Iraq. The company takes over the management of Atheer for Communications from the MTC communications company, a cellular phone service provider in Kuwait.
Atheer for Communications currently serves some 40,000 customers in Southern Iraq. According to Fastlink, some 20-25 staff members will soon leave for Iraq to take up their respective posts in the Southern region of the country.
Atheer extends its coverage from Iraq's southern borders with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the central area, covering the cities of Basra, Um Qasr, Safwan, Nasiriyya, Amarah, Qarnah, Majar Al-Kabir and Samawah. A network of agents and distributors is also set to facilitate the service and provide customer’s support.
Atheer for Communications was selected last year by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to set up and operate a cellular phone network in Southern Iraq. Its strategy includes the supply of an extensive and independent GSM network with a capacity estimated to reach 300,000 users by the year 2005. — (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
