New Delhi: India is helping war-torn Afghanistan to help rebuild its telecommunication services and is also contributing to the development of Nepal.
Telecommunication Consultants India Limited (TCIL), a public enterprise based in New Delhi has been working in Afghanistan since 2001. The company has set up computer education in schools and launched tele-medicine services in Afghanistan.
TCIL also provides training to Afghan government officials for smooth functioning in the offices.
The company trains Afghanistan based doctors through tele-conferencing at its centres based in Lucknow and Chandigarh.
“In 2001 the war was over and India was one of the major players there, TCIL started its journey there in Afghanistan and we started with the computer education and established centers in different places and about 300 top government officers they were trained in computer and computer related education. That was the first beginning”, said Vimal Wakhlu, Chairman and Managing Director, TCIL.
TCIL has also launched microwave services worth $3.5-4 million which helps to increase the bandwidth services in the country.
The microwave network is connecting different parts of Afghanistan to capital Kabul. CDMA for mobile was also rolled out by TCIL in about 11 provinces of Afghanistan.
Despite the threats posed by the Taliban, the company has been working in Afghanistan to improve telecommunication services. India has contributed about $750 million since 2002 to Afghanistan and these funds are invested for the improvement in health, education and infrastructure development.
India also contributes for the development of Telecommunication services in Nepal and providing an array of services to Nepal and assisting in the capacity building.
TCIL has been working in Nepal since 2003. The company has commissioned mobile network services, optical fibre network and satellite communication network in Nepal and to the neighbouring country. The company is working closely with Nepal Telecom to help in setting satellite communication network in remote hilly areas.
In collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), TCIL has established a medical telecommunication set up in Nepal. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Nepal has improved the bilateral ties between the two neighbours.