September 2,  2002

Afghan Wireless Launches Service in Northern City of Mazar-i-Sharif

Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan  - Afghan Wireless Communications Company (AWCC), a joint venture between Telephone Systems International, Inc. in New York and the Ministry of Communications of the Afghan government, has launched mobile GSM voice service in the rich cultural and ancient city of Mazar-i-Sharif.  This new availability of GSM service in Mazar has brought mobile connectivity both nationally and internationally to the people of Mazar for the first time and is anticipated to facilitate economic development with neighboring Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikstan, and Russia.

The launch ceremony was held in Mazar today at the Arzo Hotel where a host of local guests, dignitaries, and journalists were present.  The Afghan Wireless launch ceremony featured opening remarks by Afghan Wireless’s Government Relations Director, Amin Ramin and Managing Director Gavin Jeffery.

Afghan Wireless is Afghanistan’s first mobile communications service provider.  Since the spring of this year, GSM, RF, and civil engineering staff of Afghan Wireless have worked intensely in the remote environment to bring connectivity to the Afghan people in spite of the extreme challenges.

TSI’s founder, Ehsan Bayat, highlighted the achievements thus far of Afghan Wireless by stating that “Overall and in spite of the challenges we have accomplished a good thing for the people and country of Afghanistan; connecting people far and wide, north and south, east and west, and in many cases for the first-time and at internationally competitive rates.  Our greatest wish is that the mobile connectivity will give the Afghan people hope as it helps to bridge the gap of separation from the outside world that they’ve suffered for the past twenty five years.”