Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) will partner with northern Iraq communications service provider Regional Telecom to build the war-torn country's first 4G LTE network, according to an announcement from Alcatel-Lucent.
The network would be the first in Iraq to provide a wide area wireless broadband service, and the companies hope that it will help revive the Iraqi economy.
"Broadband services are the lifeblood of the modern digital economy," said Regional Telecom Chairman Kawa Junad. "[B]ut Iraq has been without widely available broadband for more than a decade, in effect cutting off the country, our businesses, and our citizens from the rest of the world."
Alcatel-Lucent will provide Regional Telecom with base stations, and other infrastructure, including IP mobile backhaul to handle both the new 4G LTE traffic and existing 3G CDMA communications.
