Skip to main content
Latest news
Thumbnail

MCIT To Establish Telecom Tax Collection System

The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) has planned to establish a ‘proper system’ to collect telecom taxes within the next four months.

The Afghan government imposed a 10 percent tax levy against telecom companies which directly affected mobile phone subscribers in October 2015.

The MCIT has purchased all required equipment for the system and the pilot phase of the project – which will be completed in the next four months – will be implemented on the state-owned Afghan Telecom Company. 

Addressing a ceremony on Wednesday, the acting minister of communication and information technology, Shahzadgul Aryubi, said the 10 percent telecom tax is being collected without any system in place. 

“Government has taken steps to establish a telecom tax collection system, but the system has not been established so far. Now, we have drafted the plan and have purchased all the required devices,” he said.

He said more than two billion USD has been invested in the telecommunication sector and that from now on, the private sector will be allowed to invest in the fiber optic network. 

Aryubi said 1,000 km of fiber optic cables have connected 25 provinces of the country and this year they will connect the cable to another nine provinces. 

According to Aryobee, 20,000 landline telephones have been distributed to the people so far and once the fiber optic network gets connected to China, internet services will be improved. 

He said the ministry collected more than 14 billion AFs in revenue in the last fiscal year, but this year they have collected over eight billion AFs so far.

“Twenty five provinces have been connected to the fiber optic network and we will connect the remaining nine provinces next year,” he said. “At least 20,000 landline telephones have been distributed during the past 13 months. Nangarhar, Khost, Kandahar, Herat and Kabul are the provinces in which fiber optic networks are completed.”

Mohammad Najib Azizi, head of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of Afghanistan (ATRA), meanwhile said they continue their efforts to expand internet services to cover 50 percent of the Afghan population.

He said that more than five million people use internet services in the country, from which three million use the 3G services.

“It is important for us that by 2021, 50 percent of the population will use internet,” said Azizi.

MCIT To Establish Telecom Tax Collection System

The Afghan government slapped a 10 percent tax levy against telecom companies in 2015 but so far a secure system to collect the money has not been implemented. 

Thumbnail

The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) has planned to establish a ‘proper system’ to collect telecom taxes within the next four months.

The Afghan government imposed a 10 percent tax levy against telecom companies which directly affected mobile phone subscribers in October 2015.

The MCIT has purchased all required equipment for the system and the pilot phase of the project – which will be completed in the next four months – will be implemented on the state-owned Afghan Telecom Company. 

Addressing a ceremony on Wednesday, the acting minister of communication and information technology, Shahzadgul Aryubi, said the 10 percent telecom tax is being collected without any system in place. 

“Government has taken steps to establish a telecom tax collection system, but the system has not been established so far. Now, we have drafted the plan and have purchased all the required devices,” he said.

He said more than two billion USD has been invested in the telecommunication sector and that from now on, the private sector will be allowed to invest in the fiber optic network. 

Aryubi said 1,000 km of fiber optic cables have connected 25 provinces of the country and this year they will connect the cable to another nine provinces. 

According to Aryobee, 20,000 landline telephones have been distributed to the people so far and once the fiber optic network gets connected to China, internet services will be improved. 

He said the ministry collected more than 14 billion AFs in revenue in the last fiscal year, but this year they have collected over eight billion AFs so far.

“Twenty five provinces have been connected to the fiber optic network and we will connect the remaining nine provinces next year,” he said. “At least 20,000 landline telephones have been distributed during the past 13 months. Nangarhar, Khost, Kandahar, Herat and Kabul are the provinces in which fiber optic networks are completed.”

Mohammad Najib Azizi, head of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of Afghanistan (ATRA), meanwhile said they continue their efforts to expand internet services to cover 50 percent of the Afghan population.

He said that more than five million people use internet services in the country, from which three million use the 3G services.

“It is important for us that by 2021, 50 percent of the population will use internet,” said Azizi.

Share this post