GroupSat and its Linkstar Era
Iraq Restrictions to Internet
In 2000, Iraq connected its internet network with Jordan. The connection was very slow and limited to government centers. These centers were under government surveillance. Every page a user opened passed through a proxy. If a user bypassed the proxy and opened pages deemed anti-government, it led to legal conviction and imprisonment.
I was 17 years old then. My country suffered from dictatorial restrictions and poor infrastructure. I don’t know why, but I felt that the political regime in Iraq at that time would soon fall and these restrictions would end. As a person, I always try to find a solution and not live in the problem.
Dream of Internet Solution
I started looking for internet solutions that could crack these restrictions. I found a satellite internet service provided by companies in the UK, Italy, and Sweden. I emailed them, but no one replied at first. Maybe my English was poor and they didn’t understand me. Eventually, an Italian company responded. They provided internet service via the W3 satellite, but said they couldn’t deal with individuals, only agents. They directed me to companies in Dubai. I contacted those companies and asked about equipment, installation, and subscription prices. I was very happy with the email I received. They sent me documents about how to install satellite internet, which was not easy, especially with the Linkstar modem.
Where Did Elon Musk Get the Name Starlink?
Does the name “Linkstar” sound familiar? Elon Musk might use satellite internet when he lived in Africa, and that name of ViaSat Linkstar may have sparked the idea behind his Starlink device.
From Studen to CEO
A few years later, the regime changed in Iraq, as I expected. Iraqis became free with broad freedom of expression. I hadn’t seen anything like it even in Europe. This freedom later shrank, but broad expression remained.
When the US entered Iraq, I was a first-year computer science student. My knowledge of Windows Server and networking was good enough to keep up with the market. I contacted internet providers in Dubai again to make what I had dreamed about real. I bought a satellite internet system with a three-month subscription. Some friends and I installed the linkstar equipment and activated the modem on W3. My idea was simple: an internet cafe. The cafe was very successful and the internet service was kindly good. Customers asked where I got this internet. At first, I avoided answering because I feared competition. But due to high demand, I told myself I couldn’t resist people’s desire. I love helping people achieve their goals. I decided to see it as an investment to provide peolpe internet service rather than competition. Three of my best friends and I started a small company to provide internet via satellite and networking services. We were a group of friends who grew up together, so we called the company GroupSat.
Within months, I had many customers. I opened branches in other cities. The warehouse would fill up and empty within a month.
Maybe the reason for our success is that we were honest with clients and humble with people. Money was never our goal. We just loved what we were doing.
GroupSat provided internet to many universities in Iraq, radio stations, television channels, and companies. The company became one of the biggest service providers in Iraq. The only problem we faced was that the internet service was not cheap and not always the quality I was looking for. This pushed me again to think of a solution. I started dreaming of having my own satellite. That thought reminded me of Elon Musk and his Starlink service. Maybe Elon Musk had the same frustration with poor service in Africa and dreamed the same way I did. I sometimes wonder if I could ever reach what he reached. Maybe if I had the same opportunities he had, I would have done just as well. No one can deny that Elon Musk is a successful businessman, and comparing my achievements with his might seem like a joke to you. I understand that. However, I suffered through civil war from the age of 9. My family struggled to provide food and clothes for me and my brother.
Lossing everything
But I know one thing about myself as a businessman: I was too soft with employees, especially those with children. I can’t imagine firing someone with a family because of a restructure or budget cuts. That’s probably where Elon Musk has an edge over me. I’m at peace with that. However, I eventually lost everything to the civil war in Iraq and was forced to emigrate to find safety and protect my life.
I’m happy now working as a network engineer. I love what I do. I don’t see myself as a CEO. Maybe a team leader. I feel free when I get home and read something I enjoy. My home lab, where I spend time with ACI, DNA Center, ISE, and firewalls, feels like my own little world. And nothing beats putting all of that aside to play with my son.
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