Afghan, coalition leaders establish enduring communications plan in Kabul

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

04.02.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Brandon Pomrenke 

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan – International Security Assistance Force and U.S. forces commander, Gen. David Petraeus, spoke to the attendees of a communications and information technology conference at ISAF Joint Command’s headquarters in Kabul, March 30.

Afghan and coalition leaders from throughout Afghanistan were present to hear about current and future initiatives in the information technology fields, as well as to recognize the efforts made by each person in attendance.

“I want to thank everyone here for the leadership they are providing in the information technology sector in Afghanistan,” said Petraeus. “The mission of building communications capacity is of absolutely vital importance. The ability to access the right information at the right time helps leaders at all levels make decisions, synchronize and deconflict their actions, and operate in concert with one another.”

These synchronization efforts ensure that each regional command, down to the lowest level, understands what the other is doing at any time, maximizing the effects of any given task.

“In short, a robust and reliable communications infrastructure is critical to helping our forces achieve the kind of information superiority that is necessary to make progress in the operations we are carrying out in Afghanistan,” explained Petraeus.

While communication improvements aide in Afghan and coalition information superiority, it also develops communications for Afghan civilians. A reliable network works to secure and serve the population of Afghanistan. Most importantly, Afghans can call their local authorities if they see a crime being committed or if they have witnessed any sort of illegal activity. It can also give them access to information many would have never had before. With adequate phone and network access, many things are possible.

“In the civil sector, expanding the IT infrastructure creates jobs, provides a variety of public and private initiatives and links Afghan citizens to each other and to the global knowledge network,” said Petraeus.

There are many benefits to communication and information networks, and if nothing else, it can put Afghans in touch with one another.

As the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Sangin said, nothing is impossible. While he realizes that improvements must be made, steps have been made toward progress.

So far, approximately 15 million Afghans have mobile phones. These mobile phones and their networks are created and maintained by roughly 100,000 employees in the industry, according to Sangin. Not only do those 15 million Afghans have access to the world, but those employees can feed their families each day. The number of jobs created by information technology throughout Afghanistan could provide many families with the food, clothes and shelter they need to survive.

One of Minister Sangin’s goals is to provide approximately 95 percent of Afghans access to internet or phone services, preferably giving every Afghan a phone. He also hopes to see one of every two Afghans using broadband services, which he also aims to see increase to U.S. $200 million in revenue each year for Afghanistan. With these goals for the civilian sector, he would also like to see secured networks for both civilians and Afghan government and security officials. For all this to happen, there should be Common Communication Towers in Kabul and six other provincial capitals.

“Broadband increases the speed of economic development, better governance and reduces bureaucracy,” said Sangin. “It has an important role in the lives of our people.”

While developing better communications would be a benefit for the Afghan people and their security forces, all parties involved need to work together to ensure that the positive steps are not negated by faltering dedication or criminal networks.

“The ultimate goal is to ensure all gains are irreversible,” said U.S. Army Col. Peter Gallagher, ISAF Communications chief. “With the help of Telecom and Minister Sangin, we’re taking strides in development.”

This conference is one step toward enabling transition through information communications technology capacity building, with Afghan and coalition forces working shoulder to shoulder.

• Date Taken: 04.02.2011
• Date Posted: 04.02.2011 10:55
• Story ID: 68152
• Location: KABUL, AF