300 TELEPHONE BOOTHS TO BE OPERATIONAL IN KABUL SOON

Asia Pulse, July 28, 2005

The 300 telephone booths established by the Communication Ministry at different spots in the central capital would start functioning in a week.

Abdul Hadi Hadi, spokesman for the ministry, told Pajhwok Afghan News on Wednesday of the 300 calling points, 150 had been established in busy markets while the remaining in other populated areas.

He said calling cards worth 250 and 500 afghani would be used to make calls from the booths. A call to digital and cell phone number will consume one and five afghanis per minute respectively.

The system has been operationalised by a US company at the cost of US$200. A number of people have lauded the opening of the calling booths, saying they would save them time as well as money in terms of local and international call expenses.

Mohammad Naveed, an employee of the Afghanistan's Central Bank, said it would help those people who could not afford a mobile set.

Yar Mohammad, a shopkeeper in the Asmai Wat, said they had to tread a long distance to make a call from a PCO. The calling booth system has been launched at a time when two private mobile companies in the name of Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) and Roshan are providing services across the country.