NOVEMBER 20, 2006 -- Iraq Telecommunications & Post Corporation (ITPC), Iraq's sole fixed-line operator, has awarded Nortel (search for Nortel) a $20 million contract to build a nationwide optical backbone to deliver high-quality high-bandwidth data, video, and multimedia services for personal and business communications. Nortel was selected by ITPC as the prime contractor for the Iraq national optical backbone following a public tender process.
"This national project is vitally important to the many telecommunications projects underway that will help rebuild the capabilities of the Iraqi society and economy," said H.E. Mohamed Allawi, Iraq Minister of Communications. "We selected Nortel's advanced networking technology as the right foundation for Iraqi telecommunications and are confident that the improved communications made possible by this network will help accelerate the reconstruction of our country."
"Restoring and improving countrywide communications is vital for the reconstruction of Iraq," said Simon Beard, director of Middle East business development, Nortel EMEA. "This contract is testament to Nortel's successful record of DWDM transmission projects in Iraq since 2004 and our continuing commitment to proactively partner with ITPC in its efforts to rebuild Iraqi communications."
The new network will link to the ITPC's Iraq South Ring DWDM network -- built by Nortel in 2004 as part of the US aid-funded Iraq reconstruction program. The network delivers broadband optical services between Baghdad and Basra.
Under the terms of the contract, Nortel will supply a national optical backbone network that covers 5,000 km and includes 35 major cities. The network will be constructed using Nortel's next-generation DWDM equipment including Common Photonic Layer (CPL), Optical Multiservice Edge (OME) 6500 terminals with electronic dispersion management technology and Optical Network Manager for simplifying field operations. The resilient network will comprise seven interlocking rings providing a bandwidth capacity of up to 160 Gbits/sec per ring.
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