Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KABUL1557
2007-05-08 13:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
AFGHANISTAN FOLLOW-UP REGIONAL TELECOM POLICY FORUM
how-toVZCZCXRO8863 RR RUEHDBU DE RUEHBUL #1557 1281310 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 081310Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7927 INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0005 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 4756 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0348 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 5163 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 6876 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0478 RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 5671 RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 1462 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 7072
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
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
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