Completed Projects: Telecommunications
Since early 2003, telephone subscriptions in Iraq have increased almost four-fold, rising from 1.2 million
land lines to 4.6 million land and cell lines. USAID has worked extensively to restore and expand Iraq’s
vital telecommunications network, connecting government agencies, businesses, and Iraqi citizens to
each other throughout the country and to the outside world. In 2004, emergency repairs to the wired network
reconnected 20 major cities and 70 percent of Iraqi subscribers. Key equipment was replaced and
expanded. Iraqi engineers also received the training necessary to operate and maintain the equipment.
Currently, USAID is helping the Ministry of Electricity consolidate communications, a move that will improve
electrical service nation-wide.
Reconnecting Iraq
Prior to the conflict, 1.2 million Iraqis subscribed to landline telephone service and much of the telecommunication
network was centralized in Baghdad. However, many of the network’s switches were damaged
during the conflict and service was disrupted. In Baghdad, 12 telephone exchange switches (out of
38 total) serving 240,000 out of 540,000 telephone lines were out of service. These switches connect
main telephone trunk lines to individual consumer lines.
As part of USAID’s effort to restore critical infrastructure
and services, USAID’s partner worked with the Iraq Telecommunications
and Postal Commission (ITPC) to restore
the national fiber optic telecommunications network,
repair the telephone switching system in Baghdad, and
restore international telecommunications capability.
USAID relied on ITPC personnel to perform much of the
reconstruction activities and handed over operation and
maintenance of all switch sites in mid-March 2004.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Audited more than 1,200 km of the national fiber optic
backbone network.
- Performed emergency repairs to the national fiber optic network from Mosul to Umm Qasr, connecting
20 cities to Baghdad and the 70 percent of Iraqis that have landline telephone accounts.
- Purchased tools, equipment, and parts and provided management oversight to assist ITPC in
the restoration of the fiber optic network.
- Replaced obsolete transmission equipment between Baghdad and Basrah in collaboration with
the ITPC.
- Reconstituted Baghdad area phone service by installing
switches with 240,000 lines at 12 sites.
- In total, USAID installed 12 domestic switches and one
international switch, fully integrating the new equipment
with the existing switches. The switches provide connection
points for ITPC to connect subscribers.
- Installed a satellite gateway system and restored international
calling service in December 2003.
- Trained ITPC engineers and technicians in the operation
and maintenance of the satellite gateway system and the
new telephone switches.
- Installed a $51.8 million consolidated fiber optic network connecting electricity and communications sectors, allowing Ministry of Electricity officials to monitor and control the electrical grid from a central location. The network will provide for inter-bank electronic transfers, and essential for commerce nationwide. Construction, which lasted from June 2005 to June 2006, will vastly improve the delivery of service to Iraqis throughout the country.
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