Afghan Wireless | First Telecom Provider in Afghanistan

​Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) is Afghanistan’s pioneering wireless telecommunications provider, established in 1998. Headquartered in Kabul, AWCC operates across all 34 provinces, offering services such as 4G LTE, internet, and mobile payments to approximately five million subscribers. The company has formed partnerships with 425 carrier networks in 125 countries .​Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1

Founding and Ownership

AWCC was founded by Afghan-American entrepreneur Ehsan Bayat in collaboration with the Afghan Ministry of Communications, which initially held a 20% stake. The company was created as a subsidiary of Telephone Systems International (TSI), with financial backing from British entrepreneurs Stuart Bentham and Lord Michael Cecil .​Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3

Technological Milestones

• 2002: AWCC launched Afghanistan’s first GSM wireless service, marking a significant advancement in the country’s telecommunications infrastructure.​Wikipedia

• 2012: The company introduced a mobile-money feature incorporating biometric technology, enhancing the security and accessibility of financial transactions.​Wikipedia

• 2017: AWCC became the first operator in Afghanistan to launch 4G LTE services, positioning itself as the nation’s largest private employer with 8,000 employees .​Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1

• 2018: The company expanded its services to include 4.75G+ LTE in Kandahar and introduced “Khazana,” an SMS-based news and media subscription service.​Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1

• 2019: In partnership with the International Finance Corporation’s Lighting Afghanistan program, AWCC launched a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar-powered electricity service, pioneering off-grid energy solutions in the country.​Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1

Community Engagement and Recognition

AWCC has been recognized for its contributions to Afghanistan’s economy and infrastructure. In 2017, the Ministry of Finance honored the company as the “Best Large Taxpayer.” Additionally, AWCC has invested over $400 million in expanding its mobile network and supports various community initiatives, including educational assistance for employees attending local universities .​WikipediaWikipedia

For more information on their services and initiatives, you can visit their official website: afghan-wireless.com.