The Role and Impact of Strategic Leadership on Internet ... · Total number of Broadband/3G Subscribers 0 5 Million + Incomparable Total Number of Internet Users 30,000 ... 25 Iran

Internet GovernanceJavid Hamdard

29 April, 2018

The Role and Impact of Strategic

Leadership on

A Quick Comparative Review

The ICT Sector Growth Comparison

CATEGORY 2002 2015 GROWTH

Number of Telecom Operators 0 7 Incomparable

Tele-Density Per 100 Inhabitants NA 83% Incomparable

Telephone Service Coverage by Population NA 89% Incomparable

Total Number of Active Mobile Subscribers 0 23 Million + Incomparable

ICT Sector Total Investment 0 + $2.4 Billion Incomparable

Annual Average Sector Revenues 0 (Private) $ 250 Million Incomparable

Number of Internet Service Providers 3 62 Incomparable

Total number of Broadband/3G Subscribers 0 5 Million + Incomparable

Total Number of Internet Users 30,000 (Est.) 6 Million (Est.) Incomparable

Total Number of Active .Af domains NA NA

Source: ATRA & MCIT (Sep 2017)

Source: ITU (2017)

Source: ALTAI (2014)

Afghan ICT Sector Revenue Distribution by Segment

(millions USD)

Afghanistan Country Card (IDI, 2016)

Source: ITU (2016)

Source: ITU (2017)

Source: COMCEC, 2017, p. 88

Rank Country Population covered (%) Connections penetration (%) Demand Gap (%)

1 Kuwait 100.00 139.31* 0

3 Saudi Arabia 97.90 131.78* 0

4 Malaysia 92.00 89.94 2.06

7 UAE 100.00 91.99 8.01

13 Indonesia 60.00 42.05 17.95

14 Qatar 98.00 80.03 17.97

21 Pakistan 46.00 13.02 32.98

22 Afghanistan 40.00 5.97 34.03

25 Iran 59.81 20.02 39.79

34 Egypt 98.80 50.66 47.14

40 Jordan 99.00 35.58 63.42

42 Brunei 91.00 4.48 86.52

Mobile Broadband demand gap among OIC Countries (2015)

PSD & e-Afghanistan Vision

“To make affordable communication services available in every district and

village of Afghanistan through enabling market economy, so that all Afghans,

men and women alike, can use ICT to expeditiously improve Government, social

services, foster the rebuilding process, increase employment, create a vibrant

private sector reduce poverty and support underprivileged groups” (Private

Sector Development Cluster (PSD), NDS, 2011, p. 12).

“To create a modern and efficient Information and Telecommunications sector

and e-government to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency of

the public sector, provide for social services, develop a vibrant private sector,

and create a connected and productive society” (e-Afghanistan NPP, 2011, p.

12).

E-Afghanistan 7 Layered Priority Model

Experts’ Survey (2017)

Question 1: How would you rate the strategic management andprioritization of the ICT sector by the Afghan Government includingand especially MCIT since 2002?

31%

623%

31%

15%

0%0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

POOR FAIR GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT

Question 1



Question 2: how important was the liberalization of the Afghan

ICT/Telecom for the sector’s growth and development since

2003?

8%

0%

38% 38%

15%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

NOT SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT VERY EXTREMELY

NOT SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT VERY EXTREMELY


Question 3: How would you rate the ICT sector’s licensing regime

since 2002 in regard to both telecoms operators and ISPs?

23% 23%

39%

15%

0%0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%




Question 4: How would you rate the current availability and

accessibility of Telecom and Internet services in Afghanistan?

31% 31% 31%

7%

0%0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%




Question 5: How would you rate the overall quality of ICT

services in the country?

23%

46%

23%

8%

0%0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%




Question 6: How would you rate the overall the performance

and capability of the relevant ICT sector entities such as

ATRA and MCIT in the management and regulation of the ICT

sector in Afghanistan?

54%

23%

15%

0%8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%




Question 7: How would you rate the overall the performance

and capability of MCIT in setting the right strategy for the ICT

sector in the country since 2002?

38%

31%

15% 15%

0%0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%



Recommendations:

First and foremost, the Afghan Government should spearhead the

development and implementation of a more enabling, realistic, relevant

and consumer-centric strategic vision for the ICT sector which should

guide and direct all the relevant future plans, policies, laws and

regulations by the Afghan authorities, particularly the MCIT and ATRA.

The overall strategic vision should take into account the development

and implementation of enabling quality services and consumer

protection and awareness initiatives to enhance end-user service quality

and consumer benefits.

Recommendations (Continued):

There must be improved coordination and cooperation between therelevant Government entities about sector-relevant plans, policies,strategies, rules and regulations, and priorities especially among theMCIT, ATRA, Ministry of Information and Culture, the Ministry ofEconomy, and the President’s Office as well as the private sector.

The Afghan Government and its relevant agencies should improve themanagement and prioritization of sector-related disarrayed strategicplans and projects. A broad assessment should be made about whichinitiatives, projects and programs would best benefit the sector, country,and the Afghan people (for instance, the implementation of the long-overdue National Internet Exchange). The principal criterion for pursuinga plan or project should be the resulting benefit derived by the publicfrom its implementation.


There is a need for the re/establishment of a more technically qualifiedand – most importantly – independent legal and regulatory body orauthority that could more competently monitor and regulate the sector.As such, the MCIT should take an oversight function to ensure that theemphasis remains with the quality of services rather than merely thequantity.

The underdeveloped subsectors of the ICT sector should be encouragedand promoted, particularly with regard to data /internet communicationand ICT literacy, to be spearheaded by the MCIT in close coordinationwith the Ministers of Economy, Education and Higher Education andthrough subsidies, tax exemptions and/or holidays, easy and accessiblelicensing, and so forth for ISPs, ICT education centers and institutions,and ICT for development initiatives and projects.


There must be established a better and balanced business model andtaxation regime, in order to channel reinvestment of gains into thefurtherance of a more mature and sustainable ICT sector by the AfghanGovernment. This approach should avoid the heavy and hastycommercialization and taxation of the sector to serve the purpose of amere ‘Milking Cow’ without providing for the sector’s enhancement andupgrading.

The public data communication (especially the Internet) infrastructureand services, comprised of the national fiber-optic ring and the nationalInternet exchange) should be opened up and privatized to attractinvestments and ownership by the private sector. It should be kept inmind that the lack of the private sector engagement and partnership isone of the main reasons why the data/Internet infrastructure andservices have not experienced a similar growth and development in thepast 15 years that parallels the telecom sector.


The MCIT should reposition itself to play the role of a strong policymaker and visionary for the ICT sector rather than actively competingagainst the private sector through state-owned entities andinfrastructures, similar to the Afghan telecom, and monopolizing thedata-communication (fiber optic) infrastructure and services with noparticular strategic rationale.

Finally, the management and implementation of the key national ICTprojects and programs must be enhanced through the deployment oftechnically qualified and certified project/program management teams,and individuals specialized in the arena of project/programmanagement.

Thank You

Questions / Comments

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The Role and Impact of Strategic Leadership on Internet ... · Total number of Broadband/3G Subscribers 0 5 Million + Incomparable Total Number of Internet Users 30,000 ... 25 Iran