Afghanistan’s leading cell phone and internet service provider, Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC), celebrated its 25th anniversary this week at an official ceremony hosted by the company’s founder and chairman Dr Ehsanullah Bayat.

Established in 1998, AWCC was the first mobile phone company in the country and continues to provide world-class services to millions of people across Afghanistan.

Marking this milestone at an event in Kabul on Sunday, Bayat pointed out that the company is the leading network in Afghanistan and that its spirit has strengthened over the years because of its loyal customers.

“Our pioneering spirit has not only survived but has also become stronger because our customers have recognized this spirit, and with their loyalty to AWCC have made this network the most popular and the leading telecommunications network in Afghanistan,” Bayat said.

He emphasized that AWCC has been able to expand its activities in Afghanistan with the cooperation of the Islamic Emirate government, and in addition to rebuilding existing sites and building new sites, AWCC has also rolled out fast internet services to many remote areas.

“Let me thank the leadership of the government as with their cooperation we were able to expand our network and develop the company. Thanks to the honorable Minister of Communications and Information Technology that as a result of close cooperation with him, we were able to rebuild our sites and have sites in the areas where we did not have,” Bayat said.

At the ceremony, officials of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology hailed the efforts and achievements of AWCC over the past 25 years. The Acting Minister of Communications and Information Technology Najibullah Haqqani said that the Islamic Emirate is committed to the development and advancement of technology in Afghanistan.

“AWCC has come a long way and has achievements. We appreciate the efforts of the leadership of this company. Technology is a reality and an urgent necessity, but the Islamic Emirate is committed to fulfill this necessity and has been and will be committed to its development and expansion,” Haqqani said.

AWCC officials meanwhile said they are committed to providing telecommunication and internet services to people living in remote areas of Afghanistan.

“We are committed to balanced development, we are also committed to good quality and we want to provide services in remote areas,” Aliullah Sarwari, CEO of AWCC, said.

Sarwari also said that the promise of AWCC to provide services through optical fiber will be realized soon.

AWCC officials said they are committed to meeting the current demands of society with the help of new technology in future so that Afghanistan does not lag behind the region and beyond.