BellSouth donates fiber optic cable to Iraq

Although the intense fighting in the war in Iraq is over, there is still much work ahead to rebuild the country.

While humanitarian efforts have been working to bring in the bare essentials to the beleaguered Iraqi people even prior to the actual war, now at least one commercial business is dedicating resources to rebuilding the country.

BellSouth last week announced that it is donating 900,000 feet of fiber optic cable to the Mosul Telephone Company in Iraq. The fiber, which spans 170 miles, will be deployed by the telephone company to provide service throughout the Northern Iraqi city.

The 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army is delivering the cable to Mosul.

There have not been many public donations by vendors or service providers at this point, but logistics are likely being worked out behind the scenes.

It’s expected that the federal government will work with contracting firms to build voice and data networks for the Iraqi people and the new future government.

While the U.S. government will fund much of this work, other carriers and equipment vendors may also donate assets toward the cause. But for now we’ll have to wait and see how the assets, the building and the rebuilding process come together.