First Internet Café in Iraq to use Inmarsat’s Regional
BGAN
Posted: 30 July 2003
Mohamed El Adli reports from Baghdad
Prior to the Gulf war, Iraqi businesses and citizens relied for
their communications need on government owned services. While telecommunication
and Internet services in Iraq are still not available for the community
at large, satellite based communication services have found their
way in and became the way that Iraqis use to communicate with the
rest of the world.
As soon as the war in Iraq came to an end, Iraqis needed to get
connected with the rest of the world in order to talk to their relatives.
They were looking for any communications tool at a time when all
communication facilities were cut down except for some satellite
phone providers. With the establishment of the “Al Zakira”
café, Iraqis have a reliable communications channel to get
in touch with their loved ones at an affordable cost.
The Internet café was the brainchild of Ahmed Gholami and
Samer Istifo, two electrical engineers working in computer trade.
They established the “Al Zakira” office specialising
in computer and network services in 1993. Their third partner in
the café is a friend, Shawkat Dawood, a former employee of
the Iraqi ministry of industry.
“ Our project was not commercial. Our goal was to help Iraqis
after what they endured during the tough war,” said Istifo.
Sharing the same thoughts Gholami said: “In addition to that,
we wanted to be the first to provide this service after the war,
in particular when the government provider, which provides Internet,
email services to the Iraqi subscribers, stopped during the war.”
They were able to provide Internet and email services using Inmarsat’s
latest service - Regional BGAN, which they brought to Iraq from
Jordan. It was one of Istifo’s relatives living abroad who
sent it to him.
Inmarsat launched Regional BGAN in 2002, to serve businesses, banks
and media, who travel to areas lacking a reliable terrestrial communication
infrastructure. The beauty of the service is its simplicity and
that was one of the reasons that pushed Istifo to buy it. Simply
connecting a laptop or desktop computer to the notebook sized satellite
modem provides Internet access to Iraqi people. Regional BGAN technology
enables users to send and receive data at speeds of up to 144 kbit/s
via a secure shared channel. Pricing is based on data usage, not
on the time the browser spends on the net.
In addition to Inmarsat Regional BGAN technology, Istifo provides
phone services via satellite using Inmarsat mini-M for reliable
cost effective voice communications.
Now, Istifo and Gholami can’t wait to contribute in the Iraq
construction operation through their office experience (there are
14 engineers and technicians working in that office) to establish
communication and computer networks. They hope to collaborate with
the global companies in this field.
It is estimated locally that Iraq needs to invest around US$12
billion in the communication and information technology sector,
to establish a new communication centre with adequate networks for
all 18 Iraqi cites that suffered from damage and old technologies.
They also need to establish new terrestrial networks, high bandwidth
networks, high-speed fiber optic cables and other tools to facilitate
data transfer. We must not forget the need to establish a mobile
phone network, which is expected to be from the modern generation
(3G) to bridge the gap between Iraq and the world meanwhile. They
could rely on Inmarsat satellite technology for years to come.
Many Iraqis feel they are on the verge of a new phase in the reconstruction
of their country, including the rebuilding of the communication
sector, which was severely damaged during the war.
They expect also a major role for satellite communication technology
in the reconstruction process especially when construction companies
arrive to start working here, and will need tools to keep them connected
with their headquarters in the different countries.
In addition to that analysts expect that Iraq will become a centre
of attention for international and regional media, which also means
the need for satellite communication providers.
The decision of the American civilian administration to hold the
custom tariff on goods imported into Iraq until the end of this
year will facilitate operations.
Also it is expected that the new customs law, which will be implemented
at the beginning of next year, will encourage the imports of high
tech devices and equipment including communication tools, to support
investment in this sector, especially after the declaration of American
civilian administration officials, for its intention to privatise
many of public institutions.
Therefore opportunities will open up for Inmarsat to place their
footprint in this promising market.
Mohamed Al Adli is a freelance reporter in Baghad. He can be
reached on
email: al-adili@uruklink.net
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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