Nationwide GSM, 3G services in 6 months

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) on Tuesday said the just-inaugurated 3G technology and GSM services would be made available across the country over the next six months.

President Hamid Karzai inaugurated the much-awaited 3G mobile technology project and switch to GSM standards in Kabul, praising the nation for each step it took toward progress in the telecom sector.

At the inaugural ceremony, Telecommunications and IT Minister Amirzai Sangin said the new systems — being introduced in 10 provinces — would be extended across the nation over the next six months.

He estimated at $100m revenue from the GSM and 3G services over the next two years, which would be used to extend projects to every corner of the country.

“Since 2007, the Afghan telecom sector has made many achievements so far and credit for the switch to GSM standards and introduction of 3G technology is the result of these efforts,” he said.

He added the new projects would help promote healthy competition among telecommunication companies.

About the fibre optic cable system, Sangin said the networks generated $60 million in revenue per annum and so far only $100 million had been spent on laying the cable.

He recalled in the past, one MB of Internet would cost $5,000, a rate that has been brought down to $67 with the activation of the optic fibre system.

mds/ma/mud