Asiacell widens footprint in bid to achieve nationwide coverage

Iraqi mobile operator Asiacell has announced it has expanded coverage of its wireless network to the governate of Anbar, including the cities of Rawah, Ubaidi, Karbalah, Husaibah and Haditha. The expansion forms part of a wider campaign to provide nationwide coverage in 2010, with a particular emphasis on the western and southern regions. ‘Making sustainable investments in our infrastructure is one of our main priorities due to its significant contribution to the development of the Iraqi telecoms sector and in raising the sector’s competitiveness in terms of quality and standards,’ commented Asiacell’s Chairman, Faruk Mustafa Rasool, adding, ‘We pride ourselves on being the first company to provide coverage for all of Iraq, and we pledge to continue to follow the same ambitious methodology in delivering on our promises to our subscribers through providing them with the best telecom services wherever they are.’ According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, Asiacell is the country’s second largest cellco by subscribers behind Zain Iraq, reporting a customer base of 7.74 million at 31 March 2010, representing a market share of 37.2%.