Iraqi telecoms firm Iraqtel, a subsidiary of Al Emaar Holding Group, said on Saturday that it plans to roll out the country’s first WiMAX network to deliver advanced voice and broadband services.

Iraqtel has tapped WiMAX equipment vendor Redline Communications to deliver the infrastructure and will begin deployment of the network in Basrah, to be followed by additional regions across Iraq.

The company is targeting businesses, residents and municipal organizations.

“Iraqtel has been searching for a WiMAX solution that would provide a cost-effectively alternative to VSAT networks, which have been the only available solution for establishing broadband connections because of the lack of copper line infrastructure ,” said Sheikh Fawzi Al Lami, chairman of Iraqtel.