Open Access Policy and Competitive Provisioning
Publish Date
Open Access Policy and Competitive Provisioning
October 1st, 2016, MCIT, Kabul
In accordance with Articles 10, 11, and 37 of the Constitution of Afghanistan and with the direction of the High Economic Council, MCIT formulated the current policy of Open Access and Competitive Provisioning for Afghanistan’s Fiber Optic and Broadband Sectors, to attract more private investment and, in turn, promote a robust communications marketplace, free of monopolies, which provides affordability, ubiquity, and growth in other economic sectors.
This Policy on Open Access and Competitive Provisioning took effect on August 28th 2016 after it was approved by the High Economic Council and the President of Afghanistan and in the meantime, H.E directed MCIT to coordinate more technical meetings to enrich and finalize the document and then, come up with a road map for its implementation.
To meet the growing needs of the population, facilitate the Government of Afghanistan’s commitment to connect 15 million Afghans to the internet by 2020, and to facilitate Afghanistan’s long-term goal of serving as a major data transit route from South to Central Asia and beyond, significant private investment is needed to develop a world class fiber optic backbone.
By enacting the open Access Policy, “We have taken a great leap to position ourselves as a Data Transit Hub for North and Southern Asian Countries which has been the long term objective of our regional connectivity plan. In addition, this policy will provide for the MCIT to improve the coverage and quality of communication services to all Afghan citizens.” Said the Minister of Communications and Information Technology.
The Government of Afghanistan intends to replicate the success of the mobile telecom industry and speedup the online connection of Afghan citizens to the world. This policy of Open Access and Competitive Provisioning is the guiding principal for the legal framework governing ICT Providers’ access to basic passive and basic active infrastructure and governs all government policies and actions relating to authorizing
جمهوری اسلامی افغانستا ن
د مخابراتو اومعلوماتی ټكنالوجۍ وزارت
ریاست ارتباطات و اطلاعات عامه
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
2
existing and future ICT Providers to build, locate, own, and operate physical infrastructure, including international gateways and internet exchange points (IXPs).
“We will ensure that the information and communications technology sector is well regulated and that consumers are protected and offered equal access throughout Afghanistan.” Said ATRA chairman.
The global economy and the world are now interconnected at a rate never seen in human history and the government of Afghanistan is exercising its leadership to encouraging innovation, investment, and competition in the broadband industry to facilitate growth in the broadband sector and the wider digital economy through the creation of new business and job opportunities.
For further information, please contact:
0202107091 or 0748300400