Nortel wins US$20-million contract for Iraq fibre optic network - your tax money at work

[ECH1969]

Nortel (TSX:NT) has won a US$20-million contract to build a new fibre optic network for Iraq Telecommunications & Post Corporation.

The 5,000-kilometre network will deliver high bandwidth data, video and multimedia services in 35 cities throughout Iraq, the Iraqi corporation said in a statement. The new network will link to another one that Toronto-based Nortel built between Baghdad and Basra in 2004 as part of the USAID-funded Iraq Reconstruction Program.

"Restoring and improving countrywide communications is vital for the reconstruction of Iraq," Simon Beard, Nortel's director of Middle East Business Development, said in the statement.

"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 Mohamed Allawi, Iraq's minister of communications.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/business/story.html?id=4bc129a4-2860-4584-ac53-53c2f6220d67&k=56538

[marmar]

1. $20 million? Is that all....

... that's just one round of troops' lunches for Halliburton. :sarcasm:

[Donnachaidh]

2. uhhh -- shouldn't we be supplying the basics first?

like hospitals, and other necessary items? WHO exactly is going to benefit from fiber optics if the electric is down 80% of the day?

[msongs]

3. gee, wish we could get that here in california nt

[bullimiami]

4. the problem is iraqis can do this and would do it if given a chance and the

contract.

this just takes more money from the us trough and transfers it into another pig.

[ECH1969]

5. BTTT

[thingfisher]

6. Great NEWS!!

Only it might be hard to optimally utilize the internet when you have to use one hand to hold your nose against the stink of raw sewerage running down the middle of the street... if the electricity is on... and you don't get kidnapped ... and...and...

Oh Hell, the Americans are the ones who will be using the new fibre optic wonder network.