December 2003 updates

Policies, law and development plans
By Muhammad Aimal Marjan in Kabul, Afghanistan. December 2003

New policy

The Ministry of Communications (MoC) has finalized the new Telecommunications and Internet Policy which aims to encourage private investment through the introduction of measured competition; the establishment of Afghan Telecom as a state-owned corporation; and the rapid expansion of telecommunications and Internet services in Afghanistan. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Cisco assisted in the preparation of the policy. A new comprehensive Telecom Law has also been drafted and is ready for review through a consultation process. The law is expected to be enforced in two months. A Telecom Regulatory Board has been established for the regulation of the telecom sector in accordance with the provisions of the Telecom Law. A Spectrum Management Office has also been established to plan, manage, allocate and control radio frequency spectrum.

Capacity building and public access

UNDP is undertaking a number of ICT projects in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications. The key projects are aimed at building capacity and providing technical assistance. UNDP, with the assistance of MoC, has established 10 training centres in different locations in the country, including the second Cisco Academy at the Telecom Training Institute in Kabul. These centres are playing instrumental roles in training government employees and members of the public.

UNDP, together with MoC, has also established 12 telekiosks in Kabul city where members of the public can access the Internet.

MoC is making preparations to establish the National ICT Council of Afghanistan, the National Data and IT Centre, and the IT Park, which will strengthen the growth and promotion of ICT in the country. Other government offices are also working on their ICT infrastructure.

GSM licenses

MoC has issued GSM licenses to two mobile companies (AWCC and ROSHAN) in Afghanistan. Mobile phone services are now available in Kabul, Herat, Kandahar, Mazar- e-Sharif. The number of subscribers are estimated at around 70,000. Mobile phone services are expected to be launched in Jalalabad and Kunduz by January 2004.

MoC has also issued six Internet services provider licenses to companies which are now providing Internet services in Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat, Kandahar and which will soon extend their services to six additional cities in Afghanistan.

Major infrastructural projects

MoC has signed contracts for 87,000 new digital telephone lines in Kabul and 11 provinces. The subscriber terminals will be wireless. The project is expected to be completed within the next six months.

Plans have also been finalised for the installation of an additional 30,000 lines in 11 provincial capitals.

MoC plans to install a complete national satellite network to interconnect all 32 ministries, 32 provincial capitals and 355 Districts of Afghanistan. The network will provide voice, data and video conferencing services. MoC has already issued tenders for these projects and the first phase is expected to be completed within the next nine months.

MoC plans to establish an optical fibre backbone ring around the country in its long term plan. The feasibility survey has for this has already been completed.