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New York/Baghdad (pte035/16.05.2003/16:09) - The US telephone company MCI http://www.mci.com has been contracted by the US government to a build a small mobile phone network in the Iraq capital of Baghdad. Currently the entire telephone network is running via satellite. Before the war only three thousandths of Iraq had a connection at all, reports the Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com .
In order to build a rudimentary network in the city several thousand connections have to be established. Based on information from Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, there have been complaints that MCI has been working too slowly on their first contract. Between five and ten thousand telephones need to be installed. Help organisations, military personnel and journalists only have a working network within certain areas because connections in buildings don't work.
Spokeswoman for MCI Natasha Haubold speaks out against the reproaches: "First of all, certain important relief supplies have to be transported to Iraq. MCI is simply waiting to take the necessary technical measures." According to Haubold the network is expected to function as of June.
So far the costs of the venture are being kept secret, says the Washington Post. Originally telecom firms such as Lucent Technologies, Motorola and Qualcomm were hoping to be contracted by the US government for the rebuilding of the telecommunications network. The Bush administration intends to leave this to the new Iraqi regime. Analysts estimate the costs to be around US$900m.
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