Infrastructure and access
- Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure6
- Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure3
- Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure3
- Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure2
- Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding1
Digital Divide Country Profile · Asia
AF
Afghanistan
Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.
Location in the world
Afghanistan
Asia
Afghanistan🇦🇫
- Population (2024)
- 42,647,492
- Total area
- 652,230 km²
- Area in square miles
- 251,827.31 mi²
- Coastline
- Landlocked · 0 km
National digital inclusion context
A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.
This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to Afghanistan in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.
The documented portfolio emphasizes Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure, Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure, Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure, Fiber/Fiber Optic, CDMA/WLL. The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.
Portfolio pattern
What the documented response contains.
Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.
Specific technologies
- Fiber/Fiber Optic6
- CDMA/WLL1
- Internet Exchange Point (IXP)1
- Robotics1
- WiMAX1
Intervention classification
- Infrastructure and Specific Technology8
- Infrastructure only2
- Specific Technology only1
Education and workforce
Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.
3 initiatives explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 1 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.
Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.
Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.
Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.
Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.
Project and initiative portfolio
11 documented records
Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.
01Girls STEM, robotics, and technology-skills program
Afghan Girls' Robotics Team STEM and Digital Skills Initiative
Active / international youth education initiative · Afghan girls participating in international robotics competitionsView details
Girls STEM, robotics, and technology-skills program
Afghan Girls' Robotics Team STEM and Digital Skills Initiative
Active / international youth education initiative · Afghan girls participating in international robotics competitionsStatus / periodActive / international youth education initiativeLocationAfghan girls participating in international robotics competitionsPopulationGirls and young women affected by conflict, displacement, cultural barriers, and limited technology accessOrganizationsAfghan Girls' Robotics Team; Education Cannot WaitFundingInternational competition participation; funding and participant count not reported
Builds practical robotics, programming, engineering, leadership, and technology-career visibility for girls facing severe digital exclusion.
Activities and approach: Design, build, and program robots; compete internationally; develop engineering and digital skills; serve as ambassadors for girls in technology
EducationK–12Workforce
02Government broadband
Digital CASA – Government Network and Public Institution Connectivity
2019–2021 implementation / later closed · Government and public institutionsView details
Government broadband
Digital CASA – Government Network and Public Institution Connectivity
2019–2021 implementation / later closed · Government and public institutionsStatus / period2019–2021 implementation / later closedLocationGovernment and public institutionsPopulationPublic-service usersOrganizationsMCIT; World Bank
Expanded government connectivity to support digital services and affordable institutional access.
Activities and approach: Government network; institutional broadband
03Internet exchange / local traffic
Digital CASA – National Internet Exchange Point
2019–2021 implementation / later closed · Kabul / national network ecosystemView details
Internet exchange / local traffic
Digital CASA – National Internet Exchange Point
2019–2021 implementation / later closed · Kabul / national network ecosystemStatus / period2019–2021 implementation / later closedLocationKabul / national network ecosystemPopulationISPs and Internet usersOrganizationsMCIT; ATRA; World Bank
Planned/established local traffic exchange to reduce international transit dependence and improve performance.
Activities and approach: Internet exchange point
04Regional and domestic fiber investment
Digital CASA – Regional and Domestic Connectivity
2019–2021 implementation / later closed · National and cross-border corridorsView details
Regional and domestic fiber investment
Digital CASA – Regional and Domestic Connectivity
2019–2021 implementation / later closed · National and cross-border corridorsStatus / period2019–2021 implementation / later closedLocationNational and cross-border corridorsPopulationPublic institutions, priority groups and broadband usersOrganizationsMCIT; World Bank
Designed to crowd in private investment, expand fiber, connect public institutions and lower Internet costs.
Activities and approach: Regional/domestic OFC; institutional connectivity
05Provincial telecom restoration
Emergency Telecom Network Restoration – 11 Provinces
Legacy reconstruction · 11 provincesView details
Provincial telecom restoration
Emergency Telecom Network Restoration – 11 Provinces
Legacy reconstruction · 11 provincesStatus / periodLegacy reconstructionLocation11 provincesPopulationResidents and public institutionsOrganizationsGovernment of India; Afghanistan MCIT
Restored basic telecom networks after conflict damage and reconnected provincial services.
Activities and approach: Digital switches; CDMA WLL; 35,000 lines
06Regional fiber backbone
ICT Sector Development – Central Route OFC
2011–2016 · Bamiyan, Daikundi, Ghor and 10 districtsView details
Regional fiber backbone
ICT Sector Development – Central Route OFC
2011–2016 · Bamiyan, Daikundi, Ghor and 10 districtsStatus / period2011–2016LocationBamiyan, Daikundi, Ghor and 10 districtsPopulationProvincial capitals, district centres and residentsOrganizationsMCIT; World Bank
Connected central provinces and districts to the national OFC ring with voice and broadband service.
Activities and approach: ~760 km fiber; 13 nodes
07Regional fiber backbone
ICT Sector Development – North-Eastern Route OFC
2011–2016 · Takhar, Badakhshan, Khanabad, Kalafgan and KishmView details
Regional fiber backbone
ICT Sector Development – North-Eastern Route OFC
2011–2016 · Takhar, Badakhshan, Khanabad, Kalafgan and KishmStatus / period2011–2016LocationTakhar, Badakhshan, Khanabad, Kalafgan and KishmPopulationProvincial capitals, district centres and residentsOrganizationsMCIT; World Bank
Connected north-eastern provincial and district nodes to the national fiber ring.
Activities and approach: ~240 km fiber; five nodes
08National fiber backbone
National Optical Fiber Cable Ring
2006–2016 / legacy backbone · Nationwide / border interconnectionsView details
National fiber backbone
National Optical Fiber Cable Ring
2006–2016 / legacy backbone · Nationwide / border interconnectionsStatus / period2006–2016 / legacy backboneLocationNationwide / border interconnectionsPopulationOperators, government, businesses and householdsOrganizationsMCIT; Afghan Telecom
Built the national optical backbone and international fiber interconnections that underpin lower-cost broadband.
Activities and approach: 3,100 km initial ring plus extensions; international fiber interconnects
09School broadband
School Internet Project – 160 Fiber Schools
2020–2021 implementation · 160 schoolsView details
School broadband
School Internet Project – 160 Fiber Schools
2020–2021 implementation · 160 schoolsStatus / period2020–2021 implementationLocation160 schoolsPopulationStudents and teachersOrganizationsMCIT; Ministry of Education; Afghan Telecom
Connected schools via fiber to improve access to digital learning resources.
Activities and approach: Fiber Internet; school labs
EducationK–12
10School wireless broadband
School Internet Project – 500 Point-to-Point/WiMAX Schools
2020–2021 implementation · 500 schoolsView details
School wireless broadband
School Internet Project – 500 Point-to-Point/WiMAX Schools
2020–2021 implementation · 500 schoolsStatus / period2020–2021 implementationLocation500 schoolsPopulationStudents and teachersOrganizationsMCIT; Ministry of Education; Afghan Telecom
Used wireless technologies where fiber was unavailable to expand school Internet access.
Activities and approach: Point-to-point wireless; WiMAX
EducationK–12
11Rural mobile broadband
Telecom Development Fund – Rural BTS Programme
2012 onward / legacy · Rural areasView details
Rural mobile broadband
Telecom Development Fund – Rural BTS Programme
2012 onward / legacy · Rural areasStatus / period2012 onward / legacyLocationRural areasPopulationRural residentsOrganizationsATRA/MCIT; mobile operators
Financed base stations in rural locations where commercial deployment was insufficient.
Activities and approach: Rural BTS / mobile network
Evidence boundary
Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.
Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.
Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.
Evidence and contextProfile Sources+
These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.
- Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Afghanistan. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/afghanistan/
- International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
- World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): Afghanistan. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=AF
- World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: Afghanistan. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=AF