GSM Coverage Expands in Afghanistan

The Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) has expanded its new GSM network to Herat, one of Afghanistan's key commercial and economic centers. The marks the second major city launch of a country wide roll-out program initiated in Kabul in April, by Hamid Karzai, President of the Transitional Islamic Government of Afghanistan.

The launch of GSM mobile telecommunications services in Herat, with national and international connectivity utilizing the national country code (+93), is regarded both politically and economically as one of the most important phases of the roll-out program, in part because of the city's key strategic geographical position on the old silk road.

To accommodate the local languages and the expatriate community, AWCC has implemented customer services in Dari, Pashtu and English. Demand for pay-as-you-go mobile in Kabul continues to be significant. Interest in Herat is also high, as shown by the many who have subscribed to the service prior to the launch.

AWCC's deployment of service is acknowledged to be the fastest GSM service roll-out in a developing country - start to first call in seven weeks. AWCC has been working in partnership with Afghanistan's Ministry of Communications to provide Afghans with national and international mobile calling, voicemail, SMS text messaging and data services as well as Internet access.

Ehsan Bayat, an Afghan emigre and AWCC's founder, said, "I believe that a telecommunications system is the cornerstone for economic development in a country that has been ravaged by war. AWCC is committed to doing its part, today and in the future, to help bring the economy back to its feet."'"

Posted to the site on 13th August 2002