Batelco ordered to stop Iraq mobile roaming service

[LauraK]

.."We have asked them to turn it off," a spokeswoman for the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) told Reuters on Saturday. "They are not licensed to do that."

The cellular licenses are among the most potentially lucrative contracts to be offered in Iraq, where mobile phones were banned to all but senior officials connected to a special network while Saddam was in power.

The service provider, Batelco, told Reuters it had already spent $5 million on infrastructure in Baghdad, was offering pre- paid cards, and did not want to stop.

Batelco, partly owned by the Bahraini government, said it asked the US- led administration for a license and planned to invest over $50 million in Iraq. It said it would ask to continue operating at least until a tender is sorted out.

More here

[NYC]

1. Wasn't WorldCom (guilty of fraud) given the Iraq contract by the U.S.?

That's what I heard a while back. WorldCom would be given the exclusive contract.

I'm glad to hear someone else is in there first. I think there are some new additional fraud charges developing for WorldCom MCI.

[acmavm]

2. Big time fraud charges involving non-payment to several telephone

companies for long-distant charges. They are whining that the companies that were cheated are only trying to stop them from emerging from bankruptcy and to screw with their government contracts.

[NYC]

4. Thanks for the reminder.

I knew something was up.

[pfitz59]

3. HaHaHaHa!

"I phaaart in your general direction!"
Bushco innt happy.

[psychopomp]

5. They'd better listen

I remember what tactics were used on "unembedded" journalists during the early days of the invasion.

[Paschall]

6. Just a reminder

OpenSecrets.org is keeping a running list of the main contracts awarded in Iraq along with information on the companies' campaign contributions.

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/rebuilding_iraq/index.asp

[htuttle]

7. The US doesn't want Iraqis to have phone service

Worldcom is only providing phone service to US troops and contractors, using a US-centric cell protocol.

Batelco is providing service to everyone, and uses the cell protocol more commonly found in the region.

They are providing service to two completely different groups.

We just don't want the Iraqi people to be able to use cell phones.

[Nambe]

8. About this time, Halliburton and Carlyle will get in the mobile phone.

Business

[Kellanved]

9. I wonder why ?

not really.

[Nambe]

10. It will be more lucrative than oil for the first 3 years, I am told.

Giving it to a US company will not help our troops on the ground.

[ewagner]

11. Another harp on the term "license"

Who the hell gave the Coalition Provisional Authority the right to issue licenses?

Unless you consider Iraq as a whole to be corporate property which cannot be used by others who are not properly "licensed". (e.g. license to sell stuffed animals based on Disney characters.) This is true corporate mentality!

End of rant!!!!