Afghanistan has 15.5 million cell phone users

KABUL): The number of mobile phone users reached 15.5 million last Afghan year, which ended March 21, an official said on Thursday.

The income of the telecommunications and information technology ministry stood at $160 million (7.38 billion afghanis) last solar year Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Khair Mohammad Faizi, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Up to 85 percent of the country is covered with mobile phone services, which will be increased to 90 percent during the ongoing year and 100 percent in next five years, the official said.

He said currently there were 15.5 million mobile phone users in Afghanistan.

Faizi hoped the quality of communication services would improve with the completion a fiber optic project.

He said that $1.5 billion were invested in communication sector over the last several years, providing work opportunities to 100,000 people.

The communication ministry planned to provide internet services to 200 schools and some hospitals during the year, the official said, adding their key objective for this year was the issuance of computerised national identity cards.

He said the process of issuing computerised cards will start in Kabul and would be extended to the whole country until next year.

am/ma

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