Iraq Gets Cell-Phone Service Boost

GSM CDMA Tecore Wireless Systems said it is deploying a large-scale IP-based turnkey CDMA wireless local loop network for Iraq's Moutiny telecommunications service provider.

The advanced system is CDMA 1xEV-DO ready and will initially serve 200,000 subscribers in 10 Iraq cities. Tecore, which specializes in switching systems that cover a wide variety of standards and protocols, said the network is expected to quickly scale out to serve a million subscribers.

Prior to the deployment of the CDMA standard, developed by Qualcomm, Iraq's mobile phone networks have been dominated by the European-developed GSM standard.

Tecore said it will provide "all core network and radio access systems, microwave interconnectivity, integration with satellite communications systems, overall project management and deployment services."

Tecore noted that Moutiny began preparing for the network rollout last December. Moutiny itself is staffed by Iraqis, many of whom have returned to Iraq to work on the network, according to Monday's announcement.

Tecore said it is utilizing its dual-technology SoftMSC switching system in the deployment. SoftMSC supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE and CDMA/1xxRTT/1xEV-DO and other wireless solutions.

In a statement, Tecore's vice president of marketing and product strategy Neal Calanni said: "Tecore's SoftMSC-based core network allows operators to leverage the latest IP technologies, including SIP an other emerging IP-based services, to optimize network operations and reduce capital and operating expenditures."