Comments on: Taking the Mobile Industry Review show to Kabul, Tehran and Pyongyang

By: Ben Smith

Ben Smith — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 06:32:51 +0000

I have personal experience of the mess T-Mobile can make GSM infrastructure.

By: jamesbody

jamesbody — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:51:54 +0000

Echoing the comments above – I think that a trip to Tehran could be quite entertaining – just as long as the US and Israeli Armed Forces manage to prevent themselves from unleashing waves of 'precision guided ordnance' around the place. I have personal experience of the mess that US Navy cruise missiles can make of GSM infrastructure!

By: Ben Smith

Ben Smith — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:32:51 +0000

I have personal experience of the mess T-Mobile can make GSM infrastructure.

By: jamesbody

jamesbody — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:51:54 +0000

By: Amir A.

Amir A. — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:10:16 +0000

As an Iranian, I can tell you that Tehran is the most practical choice. You'll be actually really surprised to see the mobile arena there. Nokia S60 runs supreme there. GPRS has only been recently deployed there. The price is 14.8 Iranian Rials/KB (~10000 Rials = $1US) at peak times, and 4 IR Rials/KB during off peak times. Everybody complains about the quality of the network. Just one thing to keep in mind, you're not gonna be able to hold a MIR meetup and have “drinks” served, but besides that everything should be smooth.

By: AJ

AJ — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:25:48 +0000

I have been all round the middle east and you will be treated like royalty wherever you go.

@ Sanja, wasn't Beirut also called the Paris of the East

By: Sanja

Sanja — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:15:09 +0000

We at MegaFon Moscow did actually bid for the GSM license in Iran, and some people from the team have travelled there – without any problems. Tehran is in fact extremely interesting and not that bad as portrayed in media. Before revolution it was called “asian Paris”, did you know that?

The real fun was to order some research papers covering Iran from one London-based agency. Imagine the scene: some Russian guy (me) calls the agency and asks for a report. Then he asks if the bank transfer is OK. The nice lady on the other end of the line says it is fine. Than he asks whether they will accept the money from the Tehran-based bank… Hearing that loooong pause was priceless.

It is so pity our shareholders decided to not to participate in the license auction.

In case you need to look at some country close to the edge of nowhere – what about Tajikistan? They had 6-years long civil war, share common border with Afganistan, and we, crazy Russians (and some crazy Finnish guys from Sonera) are building 3G networks there

By: Ant Carroll

Ant Carroll — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:14:00 +0000

I’d imagine Tehran would be very do-able logistics-wise and the authorities fairly welcoming. Pyongyang is open to Western tourists but from what I remember reading (from those that have gone) you have to put your name down on a waiting list and once there you have a minder at all times and, um, phones are taken off you!

By: DanLane

DanLane — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:35:10 +0000

Interesting, some news reports depict Kabul as a warzone… others make it sound like an appealing tourist destination!

I'd prefer to avoid the middle-east though!

By: DominicTravers

DominicTravers — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:29:46 +0000

Tehran is very feasible with permit from International Liaison Office of Iranian State Television.

By: Ewan @ MIR

Ewan @ MIR — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:27:27 +0000

That would seriously complicate matters I suspect, Dan

By: Ewan @ MIR

Ewan @ MIR — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:25:02 +0000

Oh that wouldn't work — taking our phones OFF us … I'd be happy to agree not to ShoZu anything without getting the minder's approval though.

That's if they even have a data network in North Korea? My knowledge of the place is strictly limited!

By: DanLane

DanLane — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:20:37 +0000

Kabul? bring it on! Do I get a gun?