AT&T Archives: Operation Desert Switch

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The Gulf War of 1990-91 left Kuwait a damaged country with severely impaired utilities. After the Iraqi invasion, Kuwait had no phone service that could reach outside of the country to the rest of the world — the Kuwaitis were cut off.

In the first week of March 1991, less than a week after the February 28th cease-fire, AT&T announced it would re-establish Kuwait's international phone service. The company first installed a station in Kuwait City to provide 120 outgoing lines to Kuwaiti citizens, the press, and Operation Desert Storm soldiers. The station was established when a group of AT&T technicians drove from Saudi Arabia and erected a portable satellite ground station overnight. The station, which was the first to link Kuwait to the outside world, soon was handling 10 to 12 thousand calls per day. A more permanent station was established later in 1991, with 720 lines.

In 2012, AT&T still provides resources to call home for overseas military personnel, with camp calling centers located in different areas around the world.

Footage courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center, Warren, NJ

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