Press Releases 2003
GSM
- The Global Mobile System to Lead Iraq's Reconstruction |
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GSM is the logical choice for integrating Iraq's telecommunications nationally and internationally says GSM Association
London,
UK:
06th October 2003: The
GSM Association, the global trade association for the
world’s GSM mobile operators, today welcomed the
news that GSM has been confirmed as the mobile communications
system of choice for Iraq’s new commercial mobile
networks.
" GSM will help re-integrate Iraq internally,
with its neighbours, the region and the rest of the
world," commented Craig Ehrlich, Chairman of
the GSM Association.
The ‘Global System for Mobile communication’ (GSM)
is used by almost one billion people worldwide including
more than 40 million people in the countries bordering
Iraq, all of which have GSM networks, and all of which
benefit from GSM’s international roaming capabilities.
In emerging economies throughout the world, GSM has
proven time after time that it is the best communications
medium to drive economic development.
The decision to
use the GSM system for the country’s
commercial networks is fundamental to reconnecting
Iraq internally and to the rest of the world in the
shortest possible time. Indeed, the benefits of GSM
have already been demonstrated in Iraq with private
networks that are already providing services to those
engaged in humanitarian and reconstruction efforts
in Baghdad and Basra.
GSM can be deployed and become operational faster
than any other mobile technology: the CPA's tendering
process stipulated that network deployment must
commence within 20 days of licenses being issued.
Furthermore,
the worldwide GSM market has ensured that an enormous
choice of infrastructure and handsets is readily
available at competitive prices – meaning
a better deal for the people of Iraq.
" The Coalition
Provisional Authority’s
prime selection criteria were clear: Iraq’s mobile
technology must deliver value for money and satisfy
immediate needs for international integration and inward
investment," said Rob Conway, the Association’s
CEO and member of its Board. "GSM is the logical
choice to deliver cost-effective, rapidly deployable
and interoperable infrastructure, handsets and services."
The
CPA has awarded licences in three regions. As well
as providing service to foreign visitors, GSM’s
roaming capabilities will ensure that customers of
one regional operator will be able roam on to any
of the other regional networks. The regional operators
selected by CPA are:
Northern
Iraq - Asia Cell Telecommunications Company Ltd
(Investors: Asia Cell Company, Wataniya Telecom, United
Gulf Bank)
Central Iraq & Baghdad - Orascom
Telecom Iraq Corporation
(Investors: Orascom Telecom Holdings SAE (Egypt), Mr
Alaa El Khawaja, Allied SA Ltd)
Southern Iraq - Atheer Telecom Iraq
(Investors: MTC (Kuwait), Dijla Telecommunications
Corp, Kharafi National)
About the GSM Association:
The
GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade association
that exists to promote, protect and enhance the interests
of GSM mobile operators throughout the world. At the
end of September 2003, it consisted of more than 596
second and third generation mobile operators and 140
manufacturers and suppliers. The Association's members
currently provide mobile services to 922 million customers
across 204 countries and territories around the world.
The GSMA aims to accelerate the implementation of collectively
identified, commercially prioritised operator requirements
and to take leadership in representing the global GSM
mobile operator community with one voice on a wide
variety of issues nationally, regionally and globally.
The
GSM family of wireless communications platforms,
including GSM, GPRS (General Packet Radio Services)
and 3GSM (EDGE - Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution
and
W CDMA) account for 72 percent of the total digital
wireless market today. The GSM Association is a unique
organisation, with truly global reach, offering a
full range of business, technical and public policy
services
to its members. For more information, visit the website
at www.gsmworld.com.
The GSM Association's Board comprises
the following operator companies and multinational
groups: AT&T
Wireless Group; China Mobile; China Unicom; Hutchison
Group; KT ICOM; Maxis Mobile; mmO2 Group; NTT DoCoMo,
Inc.; Orange Group; Orascom Telecom Group; SFR Cegetel;
SingTel Group; SUNDAY Communications Ltd; Taiwan Cellular;
Telefónica Móviles Group; Telenor Mobile
Group; TeliaSonera Group; TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile)
Group; T-Mobile Group; Turkcell and the Vodafone Group.
The Board also includes the GSMA's CEO and Chairman
of the Executive Management Committee.
For
further information please contact:
Mark Smith
Communications Director
GSM Association
Tel: +44 (0)20 7518 0530
Fax:
+44
(0)20 7518 0531
Email: msmith@gsm.org
Kevin Taylor/Richard Fogg
Companycare Communications
Tel: +44 (0)118 939 5900
Fax: +44 (0)118 959 9595
kevin@companycare.com
richard@companycare.com
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