Afghanistan's Information and Communications Technology Sector: U.S. Agencies Obligated Over $2.6 Billion to the Sector, but the Full Scope of U.S. Efforts is Unknown
Abstract
In 2001, Afghanistan had only a rudimentary telecommunications system located in major cities and along its borders. Since then, considerable development has taken place as a result of private sector investment, as well as the Afghan government and international partners' efforts. According to U.S. and Afghan officials, the information and communications technology (ICT) sector is generally seen as a success. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reports that, among other things, the sector contributed $1.81 billion in revenues to the Afghan government in 2013, employs about 130,000 Afghans, and provides mobile phone services to roughly 90 percent of the population. Private sector investment alone had reached $2 billion by 2013. Additionally, the Department of Defense (DOD) estimates that the ICT sector could generate an additional $1 billion in revenue per year to the Afghan government within the next decade from data transit tariffs and the provision of information services. U.S. agencies and other stakeholders have recognized the importance of the ICT sector to Afghanistan's economic success. For example, the ICT sector has become a key enabler of the Afghan government and has expanded its ability to communicate with Afghan citizens. In addition, the sector includes communications networks that are critical to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces' (ANDSF) operations. The objectives of the audit were to determine (1) the scope of U.S. agencies' efforts to develop Afghanistan's ICT sector since 2002 and (2) the extent to which the agencies coordinated these efforts. SIGAR is not making any recommendations in this report. SIGAR provided a draft of this report to the Department of State (State), USAID, and DOD for comment. State and DOD provided technical comments, which are incorporated, as appropriate. USAID provided no substantive comments on a draft of this report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1140082
Entities
People
- John Sopko
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction