By Bahadur Hellali (Afghanistan)

It was almost 2001 when 21st century’s technology invaded Afghanistan, a country completely lost and unaware of technical world for decades. After that time, Afghanistan is making enormous promotions and improvements in ICT (Information and Communication Technology) field and makes up for lost time in decades lasting conflict. Furthermore, millions of dollars are being invested by both Afghan government and private sectors in order to improve ICT in Afghanistan. After dark days of war, new technological structures started working and deploying ICT. Since 2001, telecommunication section has improved a lot, as before the implementation of ICT there were 20000 telephone lines in all provinces of Afghanistan, but now there are more than 1.2 million cell phone owners and with promotions and improved deployment of telecommunication, it has been estimated that by the end of 2006 there will 285000 wireless fixed telephone lines allowing not only voice, but also providing connectivity to hundreds and thousands of users in Afghanistan.  

Infrastructure investment plans are in the works in Afghanistan, including major projects such as to create a national optical fiber network along the major highways circling Afghanistan, Spectrum Monitoring Station, Afghanistan Localization Program, wireless fixed telephone lines, District Communication Network (DCN) and such more projects which will be completely listed as completed and ongoing projects at end of article. Broadband connections will be made possible through links to similar networks in the neighboring countries.  

Finally, I would like to figure out some focal changes that has been made in the IT field since last five years including a nearly complete IT infrastructure (such as telephone networks), more efficient and extensive means of communication, cheaper internet access, implementation of IT studies and the development of an IT curriculum at national universities. At last let’s sort out a list of completed and ongoing ICT projects in Afghanistan.  

Completed Projects 

Expansion of Digital Telephone Network (3G CDMA Wireless)
Microwave Network to east
Pay Phones
ICT
AfgNIC (Afghanistan Network Information Center)

Ongoing Projects 

National ICT Council of Afghanistan
ICT village
National Data Center
E-Government
Satellite Earth Station
Spectrum Monitoring Station
National Fiber Optic backbone
Government Communication Network (OGN)
District Communication Network (DCN)
Afghanistan Localization Program