The Gsm Network In Afghanistan: Connecting A Country

Afghanistan has a highly competitive mobile market with 5 mobile GSM operators. Mobile communications have improved significantly since the introduction of wireless carriers. In 2013, there were 20,521,585 GSM mobile phone subscribers and 177,705 CDMA subscribers in the country. Afghanistan's mobile sector has been boosted by the absence of effective fixed-line alternatives. The country now has 2 GSM bands and 2 UMTS bands.

Afghanistan has a highly competitive mobile market

• Afghan Wireless (AWCC)
• Salaam Network (Aftel)
• Roshan
• Etisalat
• MTN

Wasel is a sixth provider based on CDMA instead of GSM. It is concentrated in the Northern Provinces and Kabul.

The mobile market in Afghanistan has been rapidly expanding since the Karzai administration was formed in late 2001. The Afghan government's signing of a $64.5 million agreement with China's ZTE in 2006 to establish a countrywide optical fiber telecommunications network has also helped improve telephone, internet, television, and radio services throughout the country. By the end of 2013, about 90% of the country's population had access to communication services.

The number of mobile phone users in Afghanistan has grown to about 18 million, with 3G/4G subscriptions doubling from 2.6 million in June 2016 to 5.7 million at the end of March 2017. Afghan Wireless became the first operator to launch 4G services in 2017. As of 2016, more than 66 internet service providers (ISPs) were operating in the country.

The Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ATRA) governs telecom rules and regulations. Both licensing and importation of telecom equipment are possible but require time and government involvement.

There are 5 GSM operators in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has a highly competitive mobile market, with 5 GSM operators providing services to over 25 million people. Mobile penetration in the country has reached 80%. The operators are:

• MTN (6.4 million connections)
• Roshan (6 million connections)
• Etisalat (5 million connections)
• AWCC (Afghan Wireless) (4 million connections)
• Afghan Telecom (3.6 million connections)

These companies are part of a functional telecommunications sector that was built from scratch after many years of war and civil strife. The mobile sector has been boosted by the absence of effective fixed-line alternatives.

GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications, and it is the most widely used mobile phone standard. It uses digital encryption of conversations and was the first generation to offer data services and SMS text messaging.

Afghan Wireless is Afghanistan's first wireless communications company

Afghanistan uses 2 GSM bands and 2 UMTS bands for mobile network compatibility. Afghan Wireless, also known as Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC), is Afghanistan's first wireless communications company. It was founded in 1998 and is based in Kabul, Afghanistan, with various regional offices. Afghan Wireless provides 4G LTE and other services, such as internet and mobile payments, to about five million subscribers across Afghanistan's 34 provinces.

The company was founded by Ehsan Bayat, an Afghan-American telecommunications entrepreneur, who won an exclusive license from Afghanistan's Taliban government to create a joint venture with the country's Ministry of Communications. The deal was negotiated by investors from the United States, Britain, and Sweden, with the Afghan Wireless Communications Company established as a subsidiary of Telephone Systems International. Afghan Wireless was granted a 15-year monopoly on cell phone traffic in Afghanistan by the Taliban in June 1999, and within the same year, the company re-enabled Afghanistan's international country calling code.

In 1999 and 2000, Afghan Wireless set up digital telephone exchanges in the cities of Kabul and Kandahar, replacing the outdated manual telephone switchboards that the country had long relied upon. Despite the overthrow of the Taliban by an American invasion in 2001, Afghan Wireless was the first company licensed to provide GSM wireless service in Afghanistan. With the lifting of the trade embargo, the company brought in technology from American vendors, including WorldCom, TECORE Wireless Systems, and AirNet Communications Corporation. Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai made the first phone call on April 6, 2002, speaking with the Afghan ambassador to the United Nations in New York City.

Afghan Wireless has been a catalyst for Afghanistan's growth, investing over $750,000,000 to date, creating over 100,000 jobs, and employing more than 6,000 people. The company has been instrumental in driving the rapid growth of the nation's communications market through its innovative development and deployment of global-class High-Definition (HD) Voice Communications, Internet, Data, and Mobile Payments Services. AWCC was also the first operator to launch 4G LTE services in the country, now boasting a 4G nationwide network that surpasses the combined networks of all other mobile operators.

As one of the first operators to receive a fiber optic network license, AWCC has invested heavily in building a world-class, nationwide fiber network that delivers high-speed data and internet services with unparalleled security and reliability. The company's mobile money arm, Afghan Besim Mobile Money Company (ABMMC), offers swift and secure mobile banking services nationwide, catering to the needs of consumers, businesses, and government entities.

Afghan Wireless is committed to strengthening Afghanistan's long-term future and signed a 15-year contract with the Ministry of Communications, pledging to provide customer-friendly and innovative services. The company has played a pivotal role in connecting Afghanistan with the wider world through technology, fostering both economic and social progress.

Mobile networks and carriers in Afghanistan use 2 GSM bands

Afghanistan has a highly competitive mobile market, with five mobile GSM operators competing in the country's telecom sector. Mobile communications have improved due to the introduction of wireless carriers, with the first being Afghan Wireless and the second Roshan. Afghan Wireless is Afghanistan's first wireless communications company, which was founded in 2002. It offers 4G services and is available in all of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.

UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) is a third-generation (3G) mobile cellular system for networks based on the GSM standard. 3G networks offer faster data transfer rates and are the first to enable video calls, making them suitable for modern smartphones. UMTS networks operate on the 1900 and 2100 MHz frequency bands.

It is important to note that the supported frequency bands determine whether a handset is compatible with a certain network carrier. When travelling to Afghanistan, it is recommended to check with your home service provider or local service providers in the country to ensure your device will work.

Afghanistan's mobile sector has been boosted by the absence of fixed-line alternatives

The mobile market in Afghanistan has experienced strong growth, particularly in the mobile broadband market, which has seen a strong increase in penetration over the past five years. This growth is driven by a rising number of mobile subscribers and strong competition in the market. However, the fixed-line broadband market penetration has remained extremely low, with little to no growth over the last five years.

The introduction of wireless carriers and improvements in mobile communications technology have played a significant role in the expansion of the mobile sector. By 2013, about 90% of the country's population had access to communication services, including mobile phone connections. As of 2013, there were over 20 million GSM mobile phone subscribers in Afghanistan, with the number expected to have grown in subsequent years.

The progress of Afghanistan's telecom sector, including its mobile market, has been threatened by the return of the Taliban regime and the resulting uncertainty and risks. The development of the sector is now at risk of being undone, with companies facing financial strains due to the additional costs of repairing and replacing network infrastructure. Despite these challenges, Afghanistan's mobile sector continues to be a vital part of the country's economy and has been a source of success in the midst of ongoing conflicts and civil strife.

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