Huawei wins deal to build Kalimat wireless network
Chinese infrastructure firm Huawei has won the $275 million contract to build Kalimat Telecom's wireless voice and data network (MEED 20:7:07).
Kalimat, the newly formed subsidiary of Kuwait's Trade Links, will launch its services in Iraq's largest cities in September.
The company won a licence to provide calls over wireless internet connections in September 2006.
It says it expects to sign up four million customers by the end of 2008, putting it ahead of the monopoly fixed-line operator, Iraqi Telephone & Postal Company, which has 1.5 million customers.
'You are looking at a market that is thirsty for it, a market that only has a 4 per cent penetration rate now,' says Wilson Varghese, president and chief executive officer of Kalimat.
In total, Kalimat will spend $350 million before the end of 2008 on developing its business (MEED 20:7:07).
US firm VoEx International will manage the rollout of the network. VoEx previously deployed the network of mobile operator IraQna, a subsidiary of Egypt's Orascom Telecom.
Kalimat's services will be available to 72 per cent of Iraq's population by the end of 2008. By summer 2010, about 90 per cent of the population should be covered.
Chinese infrastructure firm Huawei has won the $275 million contract to build Kalimat Telecom's wireless voice and data network (MEED 20:7:07).
Kalimat, the newly formed subsidiary of Kuwait's Trade Links, will launch its services in Iraq's largest cities in September. The company won a licence to provide calls over wireless internet connections in September 2006. It says it expects to sign up four million customers by the end of 2008, putting it ahead of the monopoly fixed-line operator, Iraqi Telephone & Postal Company, which has 1.5 million customers. 'You are looking at a market that is thirsty for it, a market that only has a 4 per cent penetration rate now,' says Wilson Varghese, president and chief executive officer of Kalimat. In total, Kalimat will spend $350 million before the end of 2008 on developing its business (MEED 20:7:07). US firm VoEx International will manage the rollout of the network. VoEx previously deployed the network of mobile operator IraQna, a subsidiary of Egypt's Orascom Telecom. Kalimat's services will be available to 72 per cent of Iraq's population by the end of 2008. By summer 2010, about 90 per cent of the population should be covered.This content is only available to full MEED package subscribers (MEED magazine and MEED.com).
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