Communications in Afghanistan
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Communications in Afghanistan has dramatically increased since 2002, and has embarked on wireless companies, internet, radio stations and television channels. Afghan telecommunication companies, Afghan Wireless and Roshan, have boasted rapid increase in cellular phone usage in the last several years. There are two more companies now in the telecom business in Afghanistan, one is Areeba and the other is Etisalat which were launched in 2007.
In 2006, the Afghan Ministry of Communications has signed a US 64.5 million dollar agreement with a company (ZTE Corporation) on the establishment of a countrywide fibre optical cable network. This will improve telephone, internet, television and radio broadcast services throughout the country.[1]
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[edit] Telephone
As of 2007, eight (8) out of 100 people have access to a telephone.[2] Mobile communications are improving because of the introduction of two wireless carriers into this developing country. There are over 1.4 Million cellular lines in the country. In 2007, Communication Minister, Amirzai Sangin, announced that 150,000 new fixed-telephone-lines would be installed in the 4 major cities of Afghanistan in one year. The project would be completed at the cost of 40 million US dollars, which will be provided from the development budget of the Afghan Ministry of Communications.[3] There are also five or more VSAT's installed in Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Mazari Sharif, and Jalalabad, providing international and domestic voice/data connectivity. The international calling code for Afghanistan is +93. The following is a list of cellular phone companies in the country:
[edit] Internet
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At present there are at least 22 Internet Service Providers giving their services. Internet in Afghanistan is also at the peak with at least 535,000 users in 2007.[7] The following is a list of the Internet Service Providers operating in Afghanistan:
[edit] Television
Televisions is a popular entertainment medium in Afghanistan, with at least 14 broadcasting stations. Satellite television carrying foreign channels is available to anyone who has access a dish. The following is a list of broadcasted Afghan TV channels in alphabetical order:
- Ariana TV
- Ariana Afghanistan TV (based in USA)
- Ayna TV
- Khorasan TV (based in USA)
- Lamar TV
- Noor TV (based in USA)
- Shamshad TV
- Tolo TV
- RTA TV
- Farda TV
- Noorin TV
- Tamadun TV
- Payame Afghan TV(based in USA)
- Noor TV
[edit] Radio
There are at least 5 FM stations, 21 AM stations, and 1 shortwave station (broadcasting in Pashto, Dari (Persian language), and English languages). The following is a list of radio channels in Afghanistan:
[edit] Postal service
In 1870, the Bala Hissar post office was established in Kabul and a post office in the center of each province. And, a post office was established in each large city by 1918. Afghanistan became of a member of the Universal Postal Union in 1928. Postal administration elevated to the Ministry of Communication in 1934.[10] Civil war caused a disruption in issuing official stamp on 1989.[11] In 1999 postal service was operating again[12] The Afghanistan government has reported to the UPU several times about illegal stamp being issued and sold in 2003 and 2007. [13][14]
Afghanistan Post is currently trying to revamp the postal service in the country, with the help of Pakistan Post.[11] The Afghanistan Postal commission was formed to prepare a written policy for the development of the postal sector, which will form the basis of a new Postal Services Law governing licensing of postal services providers. The project should be finished by 2008.[15]
[edit] References
- ^ Ministry signs contract with Chinese company, Pajhwok Afghan News.
- ^ Donor pledges to ARTF cross $2 billion mark, Pajhwok Afghan News.
- ^ 150,000 telephone lines to be provided in one year, Pajhwok Afghan News.
- ^ http://www.areeba.com.af/Index.aspx
- ^ http://www.mtn.com
- ^ http://www.waseltelecom.com
- ^ Afghanistan Internet Usage and Telecommunications Reports
- ^ http://www.instatelecom.com
- ^ http://www.neda.af
- ^ afghanpost.gov.af - About.
- ^ a b Postal Authorities A.
- ^ Afghanistan @ Stamps.
- ^ 2003 UPU Circular.
- ^ 2007 UPU Circular.
- ^ Afghanistan Postal commission.
[edit] External links
- Afghanistan's Ministry of Communications - Official website
- Afghanistan Telecom Sector Summary
- Difficulties of operating media organizations in Afghanistan
- Cleric launching TV channel for Afghan cultural preservation
- Mobil-Phone Towers Are Taliban's New Target RFE/RL March 3, 2008
- Kabul Media provides photographic and video content from Kabul, Afghanistan for news organizations
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