Amirzai Sangin, the communications and information technology minister, has said that they are going to connect the network to Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan in the near future. According to the minister, there will be an 80% decrease in prices for the internet services in Afghanistan once the network is fully established. Hakimollah Shareyar reports:

Addressing a press conference in Kabul on Thursday, 4 June, Afghan Communications Minister Amirzai Sangin said that the first part of the optic fibre network was launched by the Afghan and Tajik presidents.

During a video conference with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon, Afghan President Hamed Karzai said that the launch of the network was a huge step towards developing the economy of both countries.

Afghani President Hamed Karzai said: “Here in Afghanistan, we are also happy to inaugurate the optic fibre network between our countries after several years of hard work. This network will markedly improve and make easier communications, transactions, business and contacts between the people of the two countries as well as the people in the region.”

The communications minister has said that the fibre optic network will be connected to some other countries, including Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, within three months. The minister has said that through this land network, not only will Afghanistan establish contact with neighbouring countries and through them to other parts of the world, but it will also provide an opportunity for neighbouring countries to expand their communication services to other countries using the network.

Mr Amirzai said that soon after the network is completed, the telephone, internet services and digital and microwave broadcasts [as heard] will be upgraded to the optic fibre system, which is the best but at the same time the cheapest system at the moment.

Afghan Communications Minister Amirzai Sangin said: “I would like to announce today that once the fibre optic network is completed, internet services will be provided with an 80% discount. The other important issue is that after the launch of the fibre optic network, Afghanistan will bridge communication services between Central Asia and South and East Asia.”

According to the Afghan Communications Ministry, Afghanistan will be able to generate US$40 million to US$50 million worth of services through the fibre optic network every year. Statistics suggest that more than 10 million citizens have access to telephones, while more than 1 million people have access to the internet and that 90% of the Afghan population use television and radio.