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Viewing cable 07KABUL1557, AFGHANISTAN FOLLOW-UP REGIONAL TELECOM POLICY FORUM

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07KABUL1557 2007-05-08 13:10 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Kabul
VZCZCXRO8863
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 
 
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