Nokia Siemens Modernizing Iraqi Mobile Network

Nokia Siemens will be extending and enhancing the nationwide mobile network of Zain Iraq, after an agreement signed today with the Middle East operator. Estimated at $150 million (around 97 million Euros), the contract between the Finnish-German joint venture and the Iraqi mobile carrier will be finalized in 2009 with the deployment of a modern network with an increased capacity.

One of the largest mobile operators to offer services in the Middle East and Africa, Zain has a total of more than 44 million customers worldwide. In Iraq, the company was born after the acquisition of Iraqna and MTC Atheer, and it currently has about 8 million users. The improvement of its Iraqi network will help Zain better serve its subscribers and achieve the goal of reaching 12 million users in the Middle East country.

Talking about the agreement with Nokia Siemens, Mr. Ali AL Dahwi, Chief Executive Officer at Zain Iraq, stated: "Gearing up to increase our network capacity meant that we first and foremost require a vendor who could integrate the two core networks in operation with us. Given our group's long term strategic partnership with Nokia Siemens Networks and the personal dedication of the local team, they were in the best position to provide us a stable, reliable country-wide network at a significantly reduced operating expenditure."

Jan Cron, Head of Middle East and Africa region for Nokia Siemens Networks, added: "Nokia Siemens Networks has proven time and again that it is a committed and valuable partner to the entire Zain group of companies. With Zain Iraq, our multi-vendor integration capabilities will enable them to reach out to an ever greater number of subscribers in as cost effective a manner as possible, thus fulfilling their mission of providing mobile services to the people of Iraq at highly affordable rates."

With around 10 million mobile subscribers (at a population of 30 million), Iraq isn't among the most mature mobile markets in the Middle East. Even so, with the help of big companies like Nokia Siemens, the country will be able to have, in the future, a modern mobile infrastructure capable of answering the needs of all its citizens.