1.0 Introduction
The Islamic Transitional Government of Afghanistan firmly recognizes the importance of embracing telecommunications and Internet technologies to achieve the nation’s development and reconstruction goals. An effective telecommunications infrastructure will help stimulate economic growth, raise living standards and restore the traditional sense of community and common purpose that unites the Afghan people. A modern communications network can play a vital role in narrowing the physical distances that separate our villages and towns and dramatically improve access to government services, educational opportunities and humanitarian relief efforts. They will lay the foundation for an Afghanistan that is vibrant, productive and strong.
Today Afghanistan has one of the weakest telecommunications systems in the world. Only one out of every 550 Afghan citizens has access to telephone service. Communications between provinces is extremely limited and effectively non-existent in smaller towns. Whole communities of our people face the “tyranny of distance” and the alienation associated with remote geography. Internet and data services have only recently begun. Government operations and the management of civil affairs are hampered by the absence of reliable communications services. Economic activity is difficult, costly and at times impossible. After 23 years of conflict and stalled investment, the entire sector needs to be completely rebuilt. The Government’s Telecommunications Policy is to enable the rapid growth of affordable communications to all of our people so they may experience the Digital Age, wherever they are and whoever they may be. Afghanistan is committed to following international best practices in telecommunications sector reform. We will embrace a market regime based on aggressive market liberalization, transparent and non-discriminatory regulation, fair competition and private sector participation. The Government will move as quickly as possible to privatize the telecommunications sector to ensure that adequate financing is available to meet our development goals. Private investment has already led expansion of mobile communications. Private participation will be harnessed further to fund Afghanistan’s substantial communications infrastructure needs. Taken together, competition and private investment will lower prices to consumers for network services and equipment, improve quality of service and accelerate a faster rate of market innovation.

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