The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2024 Asia
Telecommunication systems Afghanistan, in 35 editions.
The entry for Afghanistan published Telecommunication systems in 35 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2024. The text changed in 26 editions. Each is shown as published. Telecommunication systems in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 26
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2024
Published as “Telecommunications” (1990 to 1994), “Telephone system” (1995 to 2019) and “Telecommunication systems” (2020 to 2024).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2024 edition
Same as 2023The same text in 1990 and 1991.
Published as “Telecommunications”
- limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast services;
- television introduced in 1980;
- 31,200 telephones;
- stations--5 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
- 1 satellite earth station
limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast services; television introduced in 1980; 31,200 telephones; stations--5 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station
The same text in 1992 and 1993.
Published as “Telecommunications”
- limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast services;
- television introduced in 1980;
- 31,200 telephones;
- broadcast stations - 5 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
- 1 satellite earth station
limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast services; television
introduced in 1980; 31,200 telephones; stations--5 broadcast stations - 5 AM, no FM, 1
TV; 1 satellite earth station
Published as “Telecommunications”
- limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast services;
- television introduced in 1980;
- 31,200 telephones;
- numerous cellular telephones;
- broadcast stations - 5 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
- 1 satellite earth station
limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast services; television
introduced in 1980; 31,200 telephones; numerous cellular telephones;
broadcast stations - 5 AM, no FM, 1
Published as “Telephone system”
- 31,200 telephones;
- limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast services;
- 1 public telephone in Kabul
- local:
- NA
- intercity:
- NA
- international:
- one link between western Afghanistan and Iran (via satellite)
Rewritten: too little of the 1994 text remains to mark the changes.
31,200 telephones; limited telephone, telegraph, and
radiobroadcast services; 1 public telephone in Kabul
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: one link between western Afghanistan and Iran (via
satellite)
Published as “Telephone system”
- domestic:
- very limited telephone and telegraph service; 1 public telephone in Kabul
- international:
- satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
Rewritten: too little of the 1995 text remains to mark the changes.
domestic: very limited telephone and telegraph service; 1 public
telephone in Kabul
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
Published as “Telephone system”
- domestic :
- very limited telephone and telegraph service
- international:
- satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
domestic: domestic : very limited telephone and telegraph service; 1 public service
telephone in Kabul
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
Published as “Telephone system”
- domestic:
- very limited telephone and telegraph service
- international:
- satellite earth stations-1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
domestic : domestic: very limited telephone and telegraph service
international: satellite earth stations - 1 stations-1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
Published as “Telephone system”
- domestic:
- very limited telephone and telegraph service;
- in 1997, telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and microwave systems
- international:
- satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);
- commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni
domestic: very limited telephone and telegraph service service; in 1997,
telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif,
Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and
microwave systems
international: satellite earth stations-1 stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region) region);
commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni
Published as “Telephone system”
- domestic:
- very limited telephone and telegraph service;
- in 1997, telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and microwave systems
- international:
- satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);
- commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni
domestic: very limited telephone and telegraph service; in 1997,
international: satellite earth stations--1 stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- very limited telephone and telegraph service domestic: in 1997, telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and microwave systems international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);
- commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni
domestic: general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph service; service domestic: in 1997, telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and microwave systems
The same text in 2002 and 2003.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- very limited telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- in 1997, telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and microwave systems
- international:
- satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);
- commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni
general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph service
domestic: in 1997, telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and microwave systems
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- very limited telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- telephone service is improving with the establishment of two mobile phone operators by 2003; telephone main lines remain weak with only .1 line per 10 people
- international:
- country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity
Rewritten: too little of the 2003 text remains to mark the changes.
general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph service
domestic: telephone service is improving with the establishment of two mobile phone operators by 2003; telephone main lines remain weak with only .1 line per 10 people
international: country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- very limited telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- telephone service improving with the establishment of two mobile phone operators by 2003; telephone main lines remain weak with only 0.1 line per 10 people
- international:
- country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity
general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph service
domestic: telephone service is improving with the establishment of two mobile phone operators by 2003; telephone main lines remain weak with only .1 0.1 line per 10 people
international: country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- very limited telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- telephone service is improving with the licensing of four wireless telephone service providers by 2005;
- approximately 4 in 100 Afghans own a wireless telephone;
- telephone main lines remain limited.
- international:
- country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity
general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph service
domestic: telephone service is improving with the establishment licensing of two mobile phone operators four wireless telephone service providers by 2003; 2005; approximately 4 in 100 Afghans own a wireless telephone; telephone main lines remain weak with only 0.1 line per 10 people limited.
international: country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- very limited telephone and telegraph service; many Afghans utilize growing cellular phone coverage in major cities
- domestic:
- telephone service is improving with the licensing of several wireless telephone service providers in 2005 and 2006;
- approximately 8 in 100 Afghans own a wireless telephone;
- telephone main lines remain limited
- international:
- country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2007)
general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph service service; many Afghans utilize growing cellular phone coverage in major cities
domestic: telephone service is improving with the licensing of four several wireless telephone service providers by 2005; in 2005 and 2006; approximately 4 8 in 100 Afghans own a wireless telephone; telephone main lines remain limited. limited
international: country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2007)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- limited landline telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks in major cities
- domestic:
- aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service is improving rapidly
- international:
- country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2007)
general assessment: very limited landline telephone and telegraph service; many an increasing number of Afghans utilize growing cellular mobile-cellular phone coverage networks in major cities
domestic: telephone service is improving with aided by the licensing presence of several wireless multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service providers in 2005 and 2006; approximately 8 in 100 Afghans own a wireless telephone; telephone main lines remain limited is improving rapidly
international: country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2007)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- limited landline telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks in major cities
- domestic:
- aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service is improving rapidly
- international:
- country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2007)
general assessment:
limited landline telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks in major cities
domestic:
aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service is improving rapidly
international:
country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2007)
The same text in 2010 and 2011.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- limited fixed-line telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks
- domestic:
- aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve rapidly
- international:
- country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2009)
general assessment:
limited landline fixed-line telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks in major cities
domestic:
aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service is improving continues to improve rapidly
international:
country code - 93; five multiple VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2007) (2009)
The same text in 3 editions, 2012 to 2014.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- limited fixed-line telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks
- domestic:
- aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve rapidly;
- the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90 percent of the population live in areas with access to mobile-cellular services
- international:
- country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2012)
general assessment:
limited fixed-line telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks
domestic:
aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve rapidly rapidly; the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90 percent of the population live in areas with access to mobile-cellular services
international:
country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2009) (2012)
The same text in 2015 and 2016.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- limited fixed-line telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks
- domestic:
- aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve rapidly;
- the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90 percent of the population live in areas with access to mobile-cellular services
- international:
- country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2012)
general assessment:
domestic:
international:
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- limited fixed-line telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks
- domestic:
- aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve rapidly;
- the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90 percent of the population live in areas with access to mobile-cellular services
- international:
- country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2016)
general assessment: limited fixed-line telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks
domestic: aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve rapidly; the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90 percent of the population live in areas with access to mobile-cellular services
international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2012) (2016)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- progress has been made on Afghanistan's first limited fixed-line telephone service and nationwide optical fibre backbone;
- aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve swiftly;
- the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90% of the population live in areas with access to mobile-cellular services (2017)
- domestic:
- less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity;
- 70 per 100 for mobile-cellular;
- an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2017)
- international:
- country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2016)
general assessment: progress has been made on Afghanistan's first limited fixed-line telephone service; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks service and nationwide optical fibre backbone; aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve
domestic:rapidly; swiftly; the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90 percent 90% of the population live in areas with access to mobile-cellular services (2017)
domestic: less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity; 70 per 100 for mobile-cellular; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2017)
international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2016)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- progress has been made on Afghanistan's first limited fixed-line telephone service and nationwide optical fibre backbone;
- aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve swiftly;
- the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90% of the population live in areas with access to mobile-cellular services (2018)
- domestic:
- less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity;
- 70 per 100 for mobile-cellular;
- an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2018)
- international:
- country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)
general assessment: progress has been made on Afghanistan's first limited fixed-line telephone service and nationwide optical fibre backbone; aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve swiftly; the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90% of the population live in areas with access to mobile-cellular services (2017) (2018)
domestic: less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity; 70 per 100 for mobile-cellular; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2017) (2018)
international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2016) (2019)
- general assessment:
- progress has been made on Afghanistan's first limited fixed-line telephone service and nationwide optical fiber backbone;
- aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve swiftly;
- the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90% of the population live in areas with access to mobile cellular service;
- moderate growth through 2024, assuming stable governance and improving economic environment (2020)
- domestic:
- less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity;
- 59 per 100 for mobile-cellular;
- an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2019)
- international:
- country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
general assessment: progress has been made on Afghanistan's first limited fixed-line telephone service and nationwide optical fibre fiber backbone; aided by the presence of multiple providers, mobile-cellular telephone service continues to improve swiftly; the Afghan Ministry of Communications and Information claims that more than 90% of the population live in areas with access to mobile-cellular services (2018) mobile cellular service; moderate growth through 2024, assuming stable governance and improving economic environment (2020)
domestic: less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity; 70 59 per 100 for mobile-cellular; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2018) (2019)
international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
- general assessment:
- before the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Afghanistan had successfully rebuilt infrastructure to create a functional telecom sector that covered nearly all of the population;
- due to mountainous geography, country relies on its mobile network;
- mobile broadband penetration growing, but is still low compared to other countries in Asia;
- operator launched LTE in Kabul;
- World Bank and other donors support development of a nationwide fiber backbone;
- terrestrial cable connectivity to five neighboring countries;
- work on the ‘Wakhan Corridor Fiber Optic Survey Project’ to connect to China is nearing completion;
- major importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE (2019)
- domestic:
- before the Taliban takeover in August 2021, less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity;
- 59 per 100 for mobile-cellular;
- an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2019)
- international:
- country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)
Rewritten: too little of the 2020 text remains to mark the changes.
general assessment: before the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Afghanistan had successfully rebuilt infrastructure to create a functional telecom sector that covered nearly all of the population; due to mountainous geography, country relies on its mobile network; mobile broadband penetration growing, but is still low compared to other countries in Asia; operator launched LTE in Kabul; World Bank and other donors support development of a nationwide fiber backbone; terrestrial cable connectivity to five neighboring countries; work on the ‘Wakhan Corridor Fiber Optic Survey Project’ to connect to China is nearing completion; major importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE (2019)
domestic: before the Taliban takeover in August 2021, less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity; 59 per 100 for mobile-cellular; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2019)
international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)
- general assessment:
- the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021 following the American-led withdrawal of security forces has thrown the telecom sector into disarray;
- Afghanistan was near the bottom of the world’s rankings in terms of its telecom market maturity, but it had been making some positive progress toward establishing widespread coverage over the prior decade under civilian administration;
- after the first Taliban regime was toppled in 2001, considerable foreign investment along with open competition in the telecom sector resulted in the transformation of the mobile market;
- the first mobile network was set up in 2002, and by 2020 coverage had reached 90%;
- mobile penetration rates, too, had climbed from zero to almost 100% by the time a new insurgency kicked off in 2019 that was closely followed by the start of the Covid-19 pandemic;
- both events caused a drop in subscriber numbers and in revenue for the mobile operators;
- it was additional costs involved with repairing and replacing network infrastructure destroyed by the Taliban in the build up to their takeover that put a strain on the operators’ finances;
- with increased levels of risk and uncertainty now associated with running a telecom company in the embattled state (2021)
- domestic:
- before 15 August 2021, less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity;
- 58 per 100 for mobile-cellular;
- an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2021)
- international:
- country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Rewritten: too little of the 2021 text remains to mark the changes.
general assessment: the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021 following the American-led withdrawal of security forces has thrown the telecom sector into disarray; Afghanistan was near the bottom of the world’s rankings in terms of its telecom market maturity, but it had been making some positive progress toward establishing widespread coverage over the prior decade under civilian administration; after the first Taliban regime was toppled in 2001, considerable foreign investment along with open competition in the telecom sector resulted in the transformation of the mobile market; the first mobile network was set up in 2002, and by 2020 coverage had reached 90%; mobile penetration rates, too, had climbed from zero to almost 100% by the time a new insurgency kicked off in 2019 that was closely followed by the start of the Covid-19 pandemic; both events caused a drop in subscriber numbers and in revenue for the mobile operators; it was additional costs involved with repairing and replacing network infrastructure destroyed by the Taliban in the build up to their takeover that put a strain on the operators’ finances; with increased levels of risk and uncertainty now associated with running a telecom company in the embattled state (2021)
domestic: before 15 August 2021, less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity; 58 per 100 for mobile-cellular; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2021)
international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
The same text in 2023 and 2024.
- general assessment:
- Afghanistan's telecom sector is facing challenges providing adequate coverage to all of the population;
- prior to the Taliban regaining power, the World Bank and other donors supported the development of a nationwide fiber backbone and there is terrestrial cable connectivity to five neighboring countries;
- work on the 'Wakhan Corridor Fiber Optic Survey Project' to connect to China has faced obstacles because of Afghanistan's economic issues. (2021)
- domestic:
- before the Taliban takeover in August 2021, less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity; 57 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021)
- international:
- country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)
Rewritten: too little of the 2022 text remains to mark the changes.
general assessment: Afghanistan's telecom sector is facing challenges providing adequate coverage to all of the population; prior to the Taliban regaining power, the World Bank and other donors supported the development of a nationwide fiber backbone and there is terrestrial cable connectivity to five neighboring countries; work on the 'Wakhan Corridor Fiber Optic Survey Project' to connect to China has faced obstacles because of Afghanistan's economic issues. (2021)
domestic: before the Taliban takeover in August 2021, less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity; 57 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021)
international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Afghanistan: Telecommunication systems.” The World Factbook, 1990–2024 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/afghanistan/telecommunication-systems.