AFGHANISTAN FOLLOW-UP REGIONAL TELECOM POLICY FORUM

UNCLAS KABUL 001557 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/FO/RDEUTSCH, SCA/A, SCA/RA/MICALLER, EB/CIP/BA DEPT PASS AID/ANE DEPT ALSO PASS OPIC:DZAHNISER AND TDA:DSTEIN E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: ECPS ECON AF SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN FOLLOW-UP REGIONAL TELECOM POLICY FORUM REF: STATE 54097 ¶1. (U) The GoA has confirmed its interest in participating in a follow-up conference in late summer to define a regional fiber optic network project as proposed reftel. The Ministry of Communications has informed us that it will send a delegation of at least three persons - one from the ministry, one from the Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, and one from Afghan Telecom. ¶2. (SBU) Afghanistan is already committed to building its own national fiber ring with connections envisaged to its neighbors; providing a forum for coordinating this effort with other regional efforts would be useful to all parties. As we approach the conference, we should factor into our preparations the fact that the GoA has not yet developed plans for ownership and operation of the system. The system is being built at public expense by the Ministry of Communications, and we have seen early indications that the Chinese contractor, ZTE, is already falling behind on its ambitious schedule. A similar slip in the cost estimates may throw the project open to re-bidding and reconsideration of the means of financing it. The follow-on conference may be an opportunity to educate the GoA about best practices for developing, managing, and regulating this type of network at a particularly opportune time. WOOD