Asiacell ‘ready to invest in fibre’

Iraq’s second largest mobile operator by subscribers, Asiacell, has said it would immediately invest in a submarine fibre-optic connection linking the country to the Gulf if given government approval, writes UAE-based newspaper The National. Mohammed Serieh, marketing manager of Asiacell, said the main reason behind the country’s low broadband penetration is the lack of a high speed internet backbone connecting Iraq’s cities with the outside world. ‘We are ready to invest in fibre, and ready to invest in infrastructure, once the government gives us the green light,’ he said, adding: ‘We have the plans, we have the resources, we can invest in the infrastructure tomorrow.’ The eMarine division of Etisalat, which lays and repairs submarine cables, has reportedly said it would be interested in linking the southern Iraqi port of Basra to Fujairah, which the company hopes will become a telecoms hub for the Gulf region.