wireless service wasn't available under sadam hussein. the new licenses will be granted from the us for 2 years and must be up and running within two month.

"U.S. companies were reticent to bid because of the short period of the license grant ...

Mobile phones briefly sprang to life in Baghdad in July when Bahrain's Batelco (BTEL.BH) launched a network in the capital.

However heavy U.S. pressure forced Batelco to pull the plug on its $5 million network just days after starting services. A Kuwaiti service was also briefly available." (carriers world)

this week the undersecretary for international security at the us defense department said that licenses should have been given away yesterday, but it seems the desicion is still open. no more news coming so far ....