(MENAFN- Afghanistan Times) Eighteen
years ago in 2000 Afghanistan had just handy post services and there were no
telecommunication facilities in the Afghanistan. After the emergence of new
chapter in the Telecom selector in 2002 once the first ever telecommunication
operator AWCC (Afghan wireless Communication Company) was permitted to deliver
mobile services the telecommunication and ICT division has perceived a huge and
incredible growth. There was a fast development in infrastructure, policy for
ICT in the state now the telecommunication sector is the largest income
producing segments in Afghanistan.
According to United State and Afghan
government officials' ICT is seen one of the success sector in the Afghanistan.
The U.S agency for international development reported that this sector
generated about $1.81 billion revenues to the government in 2013 and it employs
about 130,000 Afghans. The government provide mobile services to nearly 90
percent population of the country, the department of the state estimated that
the ICT would generate additional $1 billion per year to the national budget of
the country in next decade by information transit tariffs and services
providing. The ICT has become a key enabler forthe Afghan government and
expanded it services to the citizens.
In the early life of the new
government in 2001, the ICT sector of the country was in bad situation in fact,
there were nothing about ICT services for citizens. Around total of $2 billion
has been invested in the ICT sector of the country because of that today 85 percent
land of Afghanistan is covered by phone. More than 20 million people around
80-90 percent Afghans has access to mobile services across the country. An
over-all of 95000 jobs has been created and today 20 thousand Afghans working
for five telecom companies in the country. Around 100 internet service
providers' ISPs provide internet services for the citizens. Now Afghanistan is
connected to Tajikistan, Iran, Pakistan, and other neighbor international
countries through fiber optic network. Afghan government proposed many
e-government projects for public services, a strategy is created for
electronic-government and the e-government resources center is established in
MCIT.
Afghanistan telecom market has four
mobile operators (AWCC, Roshan, MTN, and Etisalat) companies and two fixed line
carriers Afghan telecom and Wasel telecom that provide mobile services to the
citizens. These telecom operators invested about $1.5 billion in the country
that results today 20 million 80-90 percent Afghans have access to mobile and
telephone services across the country. The fast growing competition in telecom
industry of the country pave the way for cheaper and improved quality services
for citizens in a low cost. In 2003, the cost for calling was very high for
example, the rate for one minute was around $0.36 in 2003 but now it is $0.05
in 2018 it shows the rate for mobile services is very cheaper from last decade.
Internet
services is penetrating across the country the growth of internet and data
services is slower compared to mobile services. Mostly the DSL (Digital
Subscriber Line) internet services provided to citizens in major cities of
Afghanistan by Afghan Telecom Corporation. In 2006 there were estimated 200,000
internet customers and there were 23 Internet Services Providers (ISP) but now
there is greater than 2 million internet users and about 100 ISP in
Afghanistan.
The major internet service providers
that provide internet services are Neda-telecom, Insta-telecom, Rana
Technologies, and some other. In the four telecom companies similarly deliver
mobile (GPRS/EDGE)internet services to the citizens in the coverage zone.
Afghan telecom is the largest internet provision supplier in the Afghanistan
using fiber optic the ISP provide internet services to almost all the government
departments and agencies.
Why research
is important in Afghanistan? The
primary reason for research is to illuminate activity, to demonstrate a theory,
and to contribute to developing knowledge in a field. Thus, the research should
look to contextualize its discoveries inside the bigger collection of research.
Research should consistently be of high quality so as to deliver information
that is pertinent outside of the research setting. Moreover, the consequences
of one's investigation may have suggestions for arrangement and future
undertaking usage. One issue that regularly torment progress in worldwide
wellbeing is the moderate interpretation of investigation into training.
Frequently, a gap exists between the individuals who conduct research and the
individuals who are situated to implement the exploration discoveries.
The
hidden issue is that "the creation of proof is composed institutionally
with high centralize mechanisms, while the utilization of that science is
exceptionally decentralized. This social separation wins since researchers are
progressively situated to the worldwide crowds of different researchers for
which they distribute than to the necessities of experts, policy makers, or the
local public.
Thus,
as researcher, it is basic to find a way to overcome this boundary. Publishing
conducted studies might be one initial step to make one's research known to the
worldwide network. Other proactive measures can be taken to empower the uptake
of proof based intervention. For example, one can introduce his/her research
discoveries at different scenes, for example, by joining different seminars,
conferences. Besides, one can send the consequences of the research to nearby
authorities, local officials, and community leaders.
The
fundamental significance is to create knowledge that can be applied outside a
research setting. Research additionally shapes the establishment of program
improvement and policies everywhere around the universe. It likewise tackles
specific existing issues of concern. Research is significant in light of the
fact that we can become familiar with things, individuals, and occasions. In
doing research, we can settle on smart decisions. It is essential to society
since it enables us to find increasingly more that may make our lives simpler,
progressively agreeable and more secure. It presents more data for the
observation. This takes into consideration upgrades dependent on more
noteworthy information and study. It is significant. It urges interdisciplinary
ways to deal with discover an answer for issues and to make new revelations. It
is a fundamental element for improvement and in this manner fills in as a
methods for quick monetary advancement. Some important points about need of
research is stated below.
To provides the basis for government policies
It Helps in solving various operational and
planning problems of business and industry
Research helps in problem-solving
It is useful to students, professionals,
philosophers, literary men, analysts, and intellectuals.
To find out the truth which is hidden and
which has not been discovered so far.
Aims at advancing systematic knowledge and
formulating basic theories about the forces influencing the relation between
groups as well as those acting on personality development and is an adjustment
with individuals.
Try to improve tools of analysis or to test
these against the complex human behavior and institutions.
To understand social life and thereby to gain
a greater measure of control over social behavior.
To provide an educational program in the
accumulated knowledge of group dynamics, in skills of research, in techniques
of training leaders and in social action.
To discover new facts & verify and test
old facts through the test.
To analyze their sequences,
inter-relationships, and explanations which are derived within an appropriate
theoretical frame of reference?
To develop new scientific tools, concepts,
and theories which would facilitate the reliable and valid study of human
behavior in decision making?
Research helps in portraying accurately the
characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group in the
organization and leads to organization redesign, and design of strategies of
development.
Research may be used to determine the
frequency with which a certain thing occurs or with which it is associated with
something else.
It helps in testing a hypothesis or a causal
relationship between variables to determine the cause and effect impacts.
The primary goal of the research, immediate
or distant, is to understand the organizational culture, social life, social
environment, decision-making processes etc and thereby gain a greater measure
of control over human behavior in the organization and social context.
To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to
achieve new insights into it. The Academic object of research is the
acquisition of knowledge and it is the thirst for knowledge coupled with
curiosity that has been the guiding force behind a rich variety of research
work independent of any material incentive.
Speech for
Readers
Research is conducted
to identify problems or to find answers to 'uncertainties'. Studies are
conducted because there is uncertainty about a phenomenon that either has, or
has not occurred. Research also aims to use the best method to solve problems,
whether or not experiments are conducted. The most important product that
should be highlighted is that the results of research should benefit the
community. Research is defined as an inclusive
approach to Research and Innovation (R & I), to ensure that social actors
work together during the whole research and innovation process. It aims to
better align both the process and out-comes of R & I, with the values, needs
and expectations of Afghanistan society. In doing so, it fosters the creativity
and innovativeness of Afghans societies to tackle the grand society challenges
that lie before them, while at the same time proactively addressing potential
side effects.
An
essential success factor for every innovation is the innovation culture in a
country. Ministries and Educational Institutes play the key role here. If they
see themselves as coaches, transfer decision-making authority, give regular
feedback and value the ideas of their employees and students, the motivation of
the employees and students become the innovative ability of the country
increases significantly.
Research
and Innovation is a primary need for our country, Afghanistan. Communities
should be formed and trained. Afghanistan government should pay attention and
invest in this critical domain.
The writer is Dr. Jawid Ahmad Baktash, General Director of R & D, Innovation and Science, MCIT, Associate Professor at faculty of Computer Science, Kabul University.
MENAFN2011201901690000ID1099301900