Govt okays $383m for fiber optics

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: The Afghan government has approved a new contract related to the Fiber Optic project having a total value of around 383 million US Dollars.

The Office of the President, ARG Palace, said the contract was approved during the latest meeting of the National Procurement Commission chaired by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.

According to a statement by ARG Palace, the project relates to the issuance of investment licenses by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of Afghanistan (ATRA) for the investment on Fiber Optics project and around 383 million US Dollars will be invested on the project.

The statement further adds that four private companies have been approved to obtain the licenses for the Fiber Optics project which include Afghan Wireless, Etisalat, Roshan, and Asian Consultancy Group.

Another firm which had also submitted an offer for the project Amania & Connectivity International was not approved for the project as certain contradictions were noted in their joint offer submitted for the approval. The MTN Company was also not approved for the project for their failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the contract, ARG Palace said, adding that the Roshan Telecom has been approved for the project on principles and subject to the clearance of the outstanding taxes.

The National Procurement Commission also approved four other contracts during the meeting having a total value of around 475 million US Dollars. The contracts approved during the meeting include reconstruction of the first phase of Gardez to Zurmat highway belonging to the Ministry of Public Works, and construction of five compounds belonging to the ministry of higher education for quality assurance and professional development.