Afghanistan Times
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By Akhtar M. Nikzad-KABUL: The Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology says it is going to stop transiting Pakistan internet as it seeks alternatives to provide cheaper and stable internet services to Afghanistan.
Telecommunication Minister Abdul Razaq Wahidi on Sunday told Afghanistan Times that the ministry has already “signed agreements with Kazakhstan to provide reasonable and stable internet services to Afghanistan.”
“Discussion is ongoing with Iran about transition of internet through optical fiber to Afghanistan,” Wahidi said.
“The Iranian officials agreed and now we are working on the agreement to sign in the near future, after which Afghanistan will acquire to a high-quality and cheaper internet services.”
He added that Iran had expressed readiness to provide internet service to Afghanistan at half of the price that Pakistan does now.
However, he did not mention the cost of the interned from Kazakhstan but stressed that the price of internet from Kazakhstan would be even cheaper than Iran.
“Fortunately, Kazakhstan agreed to supply internet services for Afghanistan. This country has perfect internet with high speed and reasonable price than Pakistan,” said the minister, adding that the project would start experimentally within the next two months.
He argued that replacing Pakistan with Iran and Kazakhstan would decrease the internet price up to $18 million for Afghan government annually.
So far, there are 67 internet service providers in Afghanistan, but consumers express dissatisfaction over the high price and low quality of internet.
