This is the first major communications infrastructure subcontract Bechtel has awarded in Iraq. This project is part of the Coalition Provisional Authority's rebuilding and reconstruction efforts. Earlier this year, Bechtel was awarded a contract in a competitive bidding process by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to design, rehabilitate, upgrade and reconstruct Iraq's infrastructure, including emergency work on the country's communications system. Prior to the conflict, approximately 1.1 million Iraqis subscribed to the Iraqi Telephone and Post Company (ITPC) for landline telephone service. Much of the communications network was centralised in Baghdad, where today, 240,000 out of 540,000 telephone lines are out of service. The Lucent subcontract is directed at restoring this service.

Lucent will provide 13 central office switches, advanced optical transport technology and network management systems designed for voice and high-speed data transmissions. Lucent Worldwide Services and Bechtel will work with ITPC personnel and local Iraqi contractors to install and deploy the switching units to bring the 240,000 lines back into service within ITPC's network serving Baghdad and the region around it. In addition to rebuilding the network, Lucent will establish an aggressive programme to train Iraqi personnel to enable the transition of the operations of the network to ITPC. The training programmes will facilitate critical knowledge transfer to ensure a successful implementation and management of the network. �Lucent is honoured to be part of the rebuilding of Iraq. An advanced, robust communications system is important to any country, and perhaps plays an even more vital role as a country rebuilds itself�, commented Mr Phillip Rosenthall, president, Lucent Technologies Middle East and Africa. As part of its first project in Iraq, Lucent will be supplying some of its most sophisticated voice and optical transmission systems as well as professional design and deployment services. Lucent's solution includes 5ESS� and 5ESS� Very Compact Digital Exchange (VCDX) switches, the Lucent Metropolis� ADM Multiservice Mux, Navis� Network management systems and Lucent Worldwide Services installation, deployment, operations and maintenance support. Deployment began in September this year.