Minister hints at cut in Internet costs

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Amirzai Sangin on Sunday said the expanding telecom coverage would help bring down the internet costs.

Sangin inaugurated the Salaam 3G internet service and the Noori fiber optic project in Lashkargah, the capital of southern Helmand province.

“Inauguration of the two projects will not only reduce the costs of internet and landline telephone but will also benefit residents of areas where such facilities did not exist before,” the minister said.

He said the Salaam 3G service would be initially available in Lashkargah and would be extended soon to districts, particularly to northern towns.

Sangin said Helmand became 24th province, where the 3G service was activated and so far in 22 provinces, the Noori Fiber Optic service had been made operational.

With support from residents and security forces, the minister said government telecom services would be launched in areas where the private sector was unwilling to operate.

He said the Noori optical fibre cable had long been deployed to Lashkargah but the cables could not be connected due to security problems.

Sangin said work was under way on another project to provide 5000 landline telephone connections in Helmand.

Speaking on the occasion, Helmand governor Mohammad Naeem said besides the telecommunication sector, progress had been made in various sectors of the province. But problems remained in northern districts, he said.

Provincial telecommunications director Omaidullah Zaheer said they had erected Salaam 3G towers in Lashkargah and Greshk district and would soon erect the towers in northern districts.

Provincial council head Abdul Bari Barakzai urged Sangin to put on modern footing the telecommunication sector in Helmand as promised by him and establish at least one each tower in all districts.

A resident of Lashkargah, Eng. Mohammad Duad, said the Salaam internet service did not work properly and called for the service to be improved.

The mobile phone service is available for 24 hours in Lashkargah and Nad Ali district but the service is suspended at night time in other districts.

ma