Since interWAVE was established in California in 1994, it has specialised in a lucrative niche market. The company provides solutions for the rapid set-up of low-cost cellular networks that enable local operators to tap markets that were previously beyond reach or significantly under-served, because setting up the required infrastructure was economically not viable.

Under its 'reaching the unreached' approach, interWAVE rolls out mobile infrastructures that allow for the transmission of voice, data and multimedia services over scaleable GSM, code division multiple access (CDMA) and broadband networks with the capability to handle up to 100,000 subscribers. The solutions provided by interWAVE are based on its own designs and equipment, all of which is built in the US.

'Our wireless product suite provides a compact, flexible and scalable cellular solution that can be deployed quickly compared with traditional network rollouts,' says William Carlin, vice-president of global sales, marketing and operations at interWAVE.

Much of interWAVE's business comes from the Middle East, Africa, South East Asia, China and Latin America. These are areas where demand for improved communication infrastructure is on the rise, but limited funds have often prevented the improvement and expansion of networks to cover remote and environmentally challenging areas.

'Wherever there is low density and remote areas need to be covered, there is an opportunity for us,' says Carlin. 'But we also provide solutions that are used in emergency situations, for example by aid groups or the army.'

Among the company's main assets is its ability to implement its systems quickly. In as little as three months the company can install wireless networks enabling mobile-to-mobile communications and cellular calls to international networks via satellite connections serving 5,000-10,000 subscribers.

InterWAVE's list of references has grown in recent years. Among the company's most recent successes was the award of a $1.8 million turnkey contract in June by Mauritel Mobiles in Mauritania. Under the deal, interWAVE will link four remote GSM network extensions via satellite with the country's capital, Nouakchott, as part of Mauritel's programme to add more capacity to its existing network.

In July, interWAVE announced the award of a follow-up contract to supply its in-house, high-capacity WAVEXchange II GSM switches to Somalia's Nationlink Telecom, a mobile operator affiliated with the Somali Telecom Group. The switches, which are designed to support up to 100,000 subscribers, will offer fully integrated capabilities and value-added services such as an authentication centre, a prepaid server and a short message service (SMS) server into one complete system.

Iraq has also been a customer. The company has already been involved in the Kurdish areas, where it has supplied equipment to local operators. It is keeping a close eye on current developments. 'We plan on opening an office in Baghdad and have already had teams in and out of the country,' says Carlin. 'We also talk to people who plan on bidding for the interim GSM tender for Iraq.'

However, Carlin says questions still remain about the tender for the three licences issued by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). The licences will be valid for only two years, making it hard for operators to recover their investments. Moreover, regulatory issues remain.

But, whatever the next step might be, given its experience in setting up mobile networks under extraordinary circumstances, interWAVE is likely to add Iraq to its reference list sooner or later.

Oliver Klaus