The country's communications infrastructure has yet to be rebuilt, but Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) has set up a telecommunication centre in Baghdad utilising Inmarsat's satellite network and terminals. The first mobile telecom team was deployed in Ba'quba, Djala district where it offered phone calls to the population.
The mobility provided by satellite phones means the inhabitants of towns such as Ar RutBah, cut off since the beginning of the conflict, are once again able to call their relatives in other countries. Most of the calls are going to Kuwait, the United States, Germany, Jordan, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates.
TSF has also opened a centre in Baghdad to provide voice, fax, Internet, videoconferencing and other services to non-government organisations (NGOs) such as CARE and the Red Cross.
Around 100 calls are made by some 15 NGOs each day, and, mobile teams are setting up temporary telecom centres outside the capital. An Inmarsat spokesperson said the services are being provided without charge to individuals or organisations.
give them a free sat phone and listen in on all the countries conversations - beware of GEEKS bearing gifts!!