Iraq begins construction of mobile-phone network

LONDON—Iraq has started construction work on base stations for its first mobile telephone network after receiving a United Nations go-ahead. A Chinese firm has won a $28 million contract and has started installing 60 base stations for a mobile network in Baghdad. In the first stage, 25,000 lines will be installed covering a 50-kilometer (30-mile) radius. The deal follows the lifting of a freeze by the United States on more than $80 million worth of Chinese business deals with Iraq in June.
In 1998, Iraq had signed a $60 million deal with French firm Alcatel to upgrade the telephone network but the contract has yet to be approved by the United Nations sanctions committee.