Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) on Thursday signed Real Time Data Management System to monitor collection of the 10 percent taxes from telecom services. 

The contract that valued $11.1 million was signed at the Presidential Palace between Communication and Information Technology Minister Shahzad Aryubi and representative of Bustos Group, an American company. 

Aryubi said the contract is for 15 months of which in the first four months the company will provide the condition for managing and overseeing the gathering of the 10 percent telecom services taxes. 

He said that after the first four months, other parts of Real Time Data Management System, such as overseeing the quality of telecom services and monitoring the telecom companies’ incomes, will be established. 

“It was a question from the people that where the 10 percent taxes go. Following the activation of this system, the question will be answered. This system will record every Afghani taken from the people and the money goes to government’s treasury,” he explained.

Jushva G. Bustos, head of Bustos Group Company, said they have rich experience in establishing and running Real Time Data Management System.

Bustos said they have installed the Real Time Data Management System in six countries.

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

However, so far there was not an electronic system for monitoring of the taxes collection and now the ministry has signed the contract to oversee revenues generated from tax on telecom companies.

Aryubi said that so far, more than AFs14.5 billion has been collected from the 10 percent taxes on telecom services.