Korek in talks to buy Iraqna equipment (Iraq)Iraqi cellco Korek Telecom, which was awarded a national mobile licence at the weekend, says it is in talks with Orascom subsidiary Iraqna for the purchase of the latter’s telecoms assets, including its infrastructure. Iraqna had been operating a cellular network in the central and Baghdad regions under a temporary licence since February 2004, but Egyptian parent Orascom dropped out of the contest for three new 15-year nationwide concessions saying that a cost of USD1.25 billion and an 18% revenue-sharing agreement with the government was too expensive. The other two licences went to Atheer, backed by Kuwait’s MTC, and Qatar Telecommunications’ Iraqi affiliate AsiaCell Communications. All three winners already have well-established operations in Iraq. Korek recently reported it had an estimated 1.5 million subscribers.
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