Challenges in Afghanistan’s telecom industry offer great business opportunities

The Information, Communication & Telecommunication Industry (ICT) is a very important industry in Afghanistan. Business and life depend on proper communication services, which depends on proper telecom infrastructure & services. ICT is a very necessary enabler for most other industry sectors.

Main current challenges of ICT in Afghanistan

The current telecom infrastructure does not cover all of Afghanistan. Many areas have only limited or no network coverage. The available bandwidth is often insufficient. Network problems and energy outages often break communication. The network infrastructure includes many old, defect, and model-outdated equipment that often fails. Modern or latest equipment is expensive and often not within budget. Foreign vendors dump their outdated models. An underground economy offers cheap but often refurbished/ less functional devices. Long-term contracts with providers and their bargaining power make upgrades challenging. A systematic, detailed roadmap for improvement would be helpful.

Many great business opportunities for ICT in Afghanistan

Given situation creates very interesting business opportunities for network operators, equipment vendors, service providers, engineering & construction companies, consulting firms, independent advisors, subject matter experts, technology specialists, commercial & technology lawyers, and many other stakeholders.

ICT can enable, enhance, and guide other industry sectors

Afghanistan also provides an environment where ICT related companies can identify many use cases and opportunities to add value across most other industry sectors and offer their products & services.

Entrepreneurs, business deal makers and innovative thinkers can develop/ propose/ start many initiatives to resolve problems, meet existing needs, and build value for Afghanistan.

Keys to success: Holistic thinking, collaboration across the ecosystem, profit & risk sharing

Government may not have the money to finance many projects. Therefore, all active players need to explore/ develop innovative business/ operating and service models where they collaborate with different stakeholders, pool together resources, and deliver services and desired end results together. Profit & risk sharing becomes vital.

Companies and individuals need to develop smart collaborative models to minimize initial capital investments, share costs & revenue streams, replace payments with other tangible/ intangible benefits (land, assets, concession rights, products, and more (see more details within related articles by the same author).

Importance of ICT

-?????? Important industry in itself

-?????? Enabler for all industries

-?????? Enabler for all businesses and personal lives

?Needs & opportunities in Telecom

1)???? Improve network quality

2)???? Increase local, regional, and nationwide coverage

3)???? Modernize network

4)???? Register and regulate network equipment

5)???? Monitor network. Preventative Maintenance.

6)???? Define and enforce SLAs to customers

7)???? Establish better, more efficient energy supply to network

8)???? Review and renegotiate provider contracts (value, cost, contract length)

9)???? Review overall telecom & communications sector policies, strategies, programs

10)? Make systems smart, self-healing,

11)? Develop and execute improvements

12)? Value added services for carriers

13)? Define clear standards (building codes for telecom facilities)

14)? Systematic Network planning & administration

15)? Systematic program management

16)? Field support & management

17)? And more

?Develop and offer industry specific services

1)???? Energy

a.????? Provide smart metering

b.????? Monitor, administrate and optimize energy generation and distribution

2)???? Healthcare

a.????? Tele Medicine and Remote care

b.????? Enable handheld devices. Paperless patient records

c.????? Patient data communication & sharing across hospitals

3)???? Education

a.????? Online teaching

b.????? Girl education

4)???? Mining

a.????? Communication in and around mines

b.????? Tracking & maintenance of heavy machinery equipment

c.????? Tracking & monitoring for trucks and load

5)???? Real Estate, Infrastructure and Construction

a.????? Smart metering for buildings

b.????? Design & Construction Integration

c.????? Track machinery and equipment

6)???? Transportation

a.????? Track vehicles

7)???? Agriculture & Food

a.????? Map food chain from farm to fork

Immediate business Opportunities

1)???? Design & construction

a.????? Build Cell Towers

b.????? Build supporting Telecom & communications infrastructure

2)???? Upgrading & modernization

a.????? Replace defect, outdated and old network equipment

3)???? Service improvements

a.????? Systematize/ streamline service maintenance and repair network

4)???? Overall contracting

a.????? Review existing contracts with network operators, equipment providers, service providers

b.????? Restructure and renegotiate contracts

5)???? Advisory

a.????? Develop strategies, systematic programs and initiatives

b.????? Design and staff advisory board

c.????? Form and equip team to renegotiate existing deals with carriers, equipment, and service providers

d.????? Create systematic, detailed improvement roadmap (business, technology, data, other)

6)???? Develop value added services

a.????? for government, businesses, NGOs, and private customers

b.????? use cases for each specific industry

7)???? Collaboration & Partnerships

a.????? joint business & technology projects

b.????? with players across other industries

8)???? Privatization of network services & Infrastructure

a.????? Take over capital infrastructure and generate revenue streams

9)???? Outsourcing

a.????? Enable companies and business to offer online-based services to local and foreign clients

10)? And much more

Conclusion:

Afghanistan offers a wealth of great business opportunities for people of all kinds of professions. You can offer a wide range of services, products, and solutions. Creative entrepreneurs can shape attractive deals, build successful companies, and deliver great value to the people of Afghanistan.

Connect with/ contact Alex directly at WhatsApp +966 531824178 to schedule a meeting for expert exchange & discussion.

Legal Disclaimer

This article reflects the opinion of Alex Steinberg only. It does not claim to represent the viewpoints of any present/ former client, employer, or partner. The author acknowledges that there are often different viewpoints on a topic, which are equally valid. Constructive discussion rather than criticism can lead to better ideas and positive outcome & value to business and society.

About the author:

Alex Steinberg has helped develop, lead, execute, and advise large programs & projects for many of the largest telecom operators, equipment vendors, system integrators, construction companies and consulting firms: Verizon Wireless, Telefonica, British Telecom, Huawei, ZTE, Vtech, Tech Mahindra, Black Veatch, WSP, Accenture, Deloitte.

Alex has helped build countries by conceptualizing and delivering strategies, programs, initiatives and solutions in healthcare, education, telecommunications, real estate & infrastructure, energy, and other key industries. He has helped positively impact over one hundred million people.

Alex is currently in Kabul, identifying opportunities and developing solutions to help build Afghanistan. Alex is coming as an expert advisor to work alongside with government, businesspeople, NGOs, and other parties to serve the people of Afghanistan.

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