Orascom persuades vendors to pay for Iraq network rollout

Egyptian-based cellco Orascom Telecom, winner of the auction for the two-year licence to provide GSM services in Baghdad and central Iraq, has said that its suppliers will finance the rollout of its network in the war-torn country. Orascom said it had negotiated a deal with two vendors – thought to be France’s Alcatel and US-base Motorola – to supply it with equipment for the network and fund its USD100 million-plus set up costs.