Access to internet and cellphone service boosts economy, aids security
UNIPATH STAFF
Just 15 years ago, Afghanistan had only 15,000 analog telephone lines serving its entire population. A satellite station in Kabul routed international calls. For those living in rural areas, it could take three days of travel to reach a place where one could make an international call.
But a concentrated effort was made after 2001 to develop the information and communications technology sector, known as ICT. Two years later, the country developed an ICT policy and established the Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority.
Today, the growing telecom sector is connecting millions of Afghans, boosting the country’s economy and helping to protect against costly and destructive cyber attacks. “From literally nothing, telecommunications has become a critical part of the Afghan economy and the way we live,” said a report by the country’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
The country has invested more than $2.5 billion in the ICT sector over the past decade, and the results are remarkable. Afghanistan now has nearly 60 internet service providers (ISPs) and five mobile phone companies serving 25 million people. Internet usage has grown to include 3 million Afghans. With the introduction of 3G licenses, two out of three internet users now connect by mobile broadband. Bandwidth capacity has also experienced significant growth, helping to move information much faster.
As a result, prices and wait times have decreased, making the technology available to a majority of the population. A SIM card, a mobile phone’s portable memory chip, once cost hundreds of dollars and took months to arrive because demand outstripped supply. Today, the cost has dropped to virtually nothing, and the cards are readily available. The price for international calls is also dropping.
All of that is good news not only for customers, but for the government. Annual revenues generated by the Afghan telecom sector now average about $140 million, about 12 percent of all government revenues, according to the Asia Pacific Network Information Center (APNIC).
This growth requires oversight to control costs and provide a fair and transparent marketplace that is safe and secure. The government has committed to “open access” policies that give telecom providers equal access to technologies such as high-speed fiber. By guaranteeing fair competition, the country is creating a market that ensures the public gets telecom services at the lowest possible prices.
The country is also investing in a fiber-optic cable network that is expected to reduce bandwidth prices, increase the number of providers and raise millions of dollars for Afghanistan in transit fees, APNIC reports. When these efforts are completed, the country will have more tier 2 ISPs operating in the country, strengthening the marketplace. Currently, Afghan Telecom is the main telecom, and it runs the fiber ring for Afghanistan. The ISPs operating in the country provide internet through the same fiber as Afghan Telecom. Because Afghanistan is a landlocked country, marine cable traffic is inaccessible and in most rural areas satellite technology is required.
The expansion of available technology brings added security threats, particularly when terrorists and criminals use the technology for their own nefarious ends. That is why the country’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is educating the public and the government about the benefits and dangers of the rapid growth in the country’s cyber sector.
The ministry has organized workshops in various fields, from central networking to advanced labor security, routing and switching. A training program dedicated to government chief information officers focuses on cyber security, e-government, and other relevant programs and policies.
And for the past two years, the ministry has provided a training program for the whole nation, including students. This training deals with networks and how they operate, starting at a beginner’s level and progressing to an advanced level.
The ministry is also focused on e-gulf and ICT development projects. Many are platforms for students who are provided an office, computer and free internet to start their research. They have developed more than 40 smartphone applications (apps) for the government, including an app to help Afghans make the hajj to Mecca.
A ministry report says the telecom sector’s growth occurred during a period of reduced conflict and greater security in the country, and it has played a significant role in attracting foreign investment, employing Afghans in skilled jobs, contributing to the national treasury, and enabling greater access to information and communication.
Tens of millions of Afghans now communicate by phone and internet, making the technology part of their daily lives and a critical part of the Afghan economy. Securing that vital link will take vigilance and cooperation with partner nations. Sharing best practices and globally accepted standards for cyber security will be important as the country’s telecom sector continues to grow. Keeping the government and the public informed about potential threats will be crucial to providing a secure cyber environment. To achieve that goal, the government must continue to nurture the regulatory policies and competitive market forces that will enable the telecom industry to prosper while providing service at the lowest cost to customers, and in a safe and secure environment.
“It is as important today as it was 10 years ago that we encourage the market to flourish,” the ministry report said.