Israeli firm wins public telephone contract in Iraq

Iridium Satellite Israel is supplying Iraq with public telephones worth 
$4-5 million. The global satellite voice and data communication provider 
was authorised last month by the office of the Coalition Provisional 
Authority (CPA) to sell its mobile satellite communications services, 
subscriber terminals, and related equipment in Iraq.

According to CEO of Iridium Satellite Israel, Ami Schneider, the order was 
placed by a Jordanian company. The company also plans to market several 
thousands of mobile telephones in Iraq.

Israel's Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu signed a general permit 
late last month authorising trade with Iraq. The new agreement normalises 
commercial and financial ties between the two countries, marking Israel's 
recognition of Iraq as a hostile-free nation.

Israeli companies can now trade and invest in US/British occupied Iraq 
without facing any sanctions from the government. A group of Israeli 
industrial representatives reportedly made a trip to Baghdad in June in 
order to seek out business opportunities related to the reconstruction 
effort.

Iridium Satellite Israel is a subsidiary of the privately held corporation 
Iridium Satellite. The company acquired the assets of the Iridium company 
in December of 2000. It is a provider of global satellite voice and data 
solutions with global coverage.

Through a constellation of 66 low-earth orbiting (LEO) satellites operated 
by the Boeing Company, Iridium delivers communication services to and from 
remote areas where no other form of communication is available.

Iridium currently provides service to the US Department of Defense under a 
multi-year contract. Iridium Satellite Israel is owned by Iridium Satellite 
Solutions' regional operators in Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Eastern Europe, 
and East Africa, and a group of investors headed by Schneider 
(http://menareport.com).