Sunday February 23, 2014
Kabul (BNA) The Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology (MCIT) inaugurated 3 big telecommunication projects at cost of $7 million in his travel to Herat last week.
These projects include 12,000-line digital network of Jebrail Town. DSL internet services via digital telephone, and inauguration of “Salaam” telecommunication network in Herat province.
Minister of MCIT, Amirzai Sangin says, 12,000 families of Jebrail residents will be provided with digital telephone services by inauguration of digital phone network in Jebrail Township. Jebrail residents can also have access to the fastest internet network with the lowest price by using DSL internet system. Sangin also added that the cost of these projects is $7 million paid from the budget of Afghan Telecom Company.
Afghanistan MCIT officials stated that by inaugurating, “Salaam” network in Herat province, the ground for communications via mobile and high speed 3G internets and reasonable price would be provided. It is said that Herat is the 8th province in Afghanistan where “Salaam” telecommunication network inaugurated. Officials say establishment of this network is a step towards constructive competition among private telecommunication companies and paves the ground for their development.
According to Afghan analysts, it was expected that the urbanization system in Kabul and provinces to improve and simultaneously by growth of telecommunication system the face of cities and villages should also be changed.
They believed that in parallel with the development of Telecommunication and IT system, if works have been taken place also in city construction, urbanization system services and strengthening of economic infrastructure, today Afghanistan after a decade was considered as a symbol for regional countries especially the countries that are in transition from war. Meanwhile, a number of people said that today they have access to internet services in remote areas of the country. The only problem that they have is high call rates in services of private companies and this issue raised people’s complaints and they want from Ministry of Telecommunication to have consideration in this aspect.
President Hamid Karzai also in inauguration ceremony of 3G network praised the active participation of youth in the field of information technology and hoped the adoption of technology will help in eliminating bureaucracy from government institutions.
He said the development of IT sector is the best panacea for problems related to bureaucracy in the country. “We hope by development of IT sector in the country, the bureaucracy will be replaced with e-governance,” said President Karzai. “Young generation has made indefatigable efforts to introduce technology, but it must not be misused. I suggest everyone to consider ethics while using technological tools.” The Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology two weeks before have signed a contract with Eutelsat Company for launching his satellite into space orbit. And the dedication of this satellite which called “Afghan Sat 1” in the space will be completed within a month.
