Fergie's Tech Blog

Hunting for Hussein's Fiber-Optic Cable While Bringing VoIP to Iraq

Ellen Messmer writes on NetworkWorld:

Amid roadside bombs from insurgents, the U.S. military has rolled out a satellite-based network for the Iraqi police that uses VoIP phones and Microsoft servers more reminiscent of an office in Boise than in Baghdad.

The VSAT-based network features a combined 150 pounds of satellite antenna from Proactive Communications, switches from 3Com and Netgear, and Cisco VoIP phones that are loaded onto a truck with modems, computers, and APC uninterruptible power supplies. Once that's all neatly tucked into a special casing, it is then driven out to locations where Iraqi police establish a post.

The VSAT network, with the VoIP phones, was the fastest way to get a network up and running after the toppling of Iraq’s dictator, Saddam Hussein, by Coalition forces almost three years ago. But there are plans to enlarge the IC2 Network [Iraqi Command and Control Network] once the fiber-optic lines Hussein hid in the ground are fully located.

posted by Fergie @ 6/29/2006 11:13:00 AM