In support of its commitment to deliver technologies to countries that are relatively new to wireless, Nokia has forged a deal with Atheer Telecom to supply equipment for a GSM core network in Iraq. This is Nokia's first foray into Iraq's wireless market.

Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, Nokia, as part of an agreement with Future Communications Company International, will deliver its Nokia Connect MSC switch, the Nokia Intelligent Network and the Nokia Management System.

Atheer Telecom is one of three GSM operators to be awarded regional service contracts in Iraq. Specifically, Atheer Telecom's license covers southern Iraq, including Basra.

In October the Iraqi Ministry of Communications also granted contracts to Orascom and Asia Cell Telecommunications Co. Ltd. The three regional contracts will be the basis for a national wireless network in Iraq.

After the licenses were awarded, the CDMA camp was notably disappointed. At the time of the announcement, the executive director of the CDMA Development Group, Perry LaForge, said the ministry's decision to go solely with GSM technology "will serve to stifle competition-driven innovation in the development of mobile services."

Atheer Telecom is not the only operator that has made deals to better its service position in Iraq. Earlier this month, Asia Cell called on LogicaCMG and Siemens Mobile Networks to deliver a Short Messaging Service Center. Under the terms of the deal, Siemens is delivering LogicaCMG's Next Generation Messaging infrastructure to Asia Cell to enable the operator to deploy messaging services. Financial terms of this deal were not disclosed, either.

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