Since beginning operations in Afghanistan in 2002, Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) has built a robust network in the country, particularly in rural areas. Over its first six years, it put together a microwave ring over 2,500 kilometers long, thus allowing it to provide remote areas of Afghanistan with mobile phone service. As a result, rural Afghans can take advantage of the company’s promotions and avoid the delays and interruptions associated with other forms of communication.
The AWCC network covers areas in all 34 Afghan provinces by making use of microwave Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology. Its setup involved significant technical accomplishments, including the construction of one of the highest GSM cell towers in the world at nearly 13,000 feet of elevation.
The company has earned recognition for its achievements in bringing mobile phone service to Afghanistan. In its early years, AWCC garnered a commendation from the GSM Association for the speed of its network’s rollout. Several government officials joined senior members of the business for the inauguration of the network’s first microwave link.