A threat to the security of Iraqi base stations which could have resulted in the shut-down of much of Zain's network in the country appears to have been averted. In April, it was reported in the American Thinker that a dispute between Zain and an Iraqi company called Babylon Eagles Security Company (BESC) over payments was expected to lead to the withdrawal of all security staff from Zain's operations.

 BESC was providing some 7,000 security staff who protect a total of 1,300 base stations from both attack by insurgents as well as theft from regular citizens. Since the start of mobile phone services in Iraq, BESC has lost around 150 staff to terrorist attacks.

However, a commercial dispute had resulted in Zain reportedly ceasing payments to BESC - and the company was about to cease payments to its staff. Without security to protect the base stations, it was expected that a rolling cascade of shut-downs would occur, thanks mainly to the lack of fuel being delivered to power the towers and theft of equipement.

Subsequent to this dispute, the security contract has now been said to be given to the Al Ihsan Security Company, which is reportedly linked to Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, an Iraqi politician and the leader of SIIC, the largest political party in the Iraqi Council of Representatives.

Source: American Thinker