Third GSM Network Launches in Afghanistan

At the weekend, a third GSM operator named Areeba launched its services in Afghanistan. At a press conference, organized by this purpose in Ministry of Communications, His Excellency Eng. Amirzai Sangin Minister of Communications, Mr. Tawfiq Ramadan Director of Areeba Afghanistan and some other officials of Areeba attended the conference. His Excellency Minister of Communications made an inaugural call on the phone to the Director of Communications in Mazar launched Areeba's services in Afghanistan.

"In order to lower the price, improve quality of communications in Afghanistan and bring healthy competitions in the field of telecommunications, Ministry of Communications started issuing two new GSM licenses in Afghanistan. Fortunately this process was carried out successfully, and today third GSM operator (Areeba) started GSM services in four provinces (Mazar, Kabul, Ningrhar and Kunduz). Said His Excellency Eng. Amirzai Sangin Minister of Communications". His Excellency also added that "I hope that Areeba Afghanistan will provide better services in accordance with the conditions and rules of the license and with the launch of services from Areeba the competition between operators will be growing and this will have a positive effect on the price and quality of services in Afghanistan".

Areeba is a subsidiary of Investcom, an international provider of mobile telecommunications services with operations in nine countries in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Investcom operates GSM, networks, mostly under the Areeba brand, in Syria, Ghana, Yemen, Benin, Liberia, Cyprus, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry and Sudan.

There are three GSM operators including Areeba Afghanistan and this number will increase to four before the end of this year.

The Mobile World database notes that Afghanistan has just over 1.1 million mobile phone users, representing a population penetration rate of 3.7%"

Posted to the site on 24th July 2006