Roshan (telco)

Infobox_Company
company_name = Roshan
company_
company_type = Private
foundation = 2003
location = flagicon|AFG Afghanistan
key_people = Karim Khoja – CEO
industry = Wireless Services
company_slogan = "Nazdiq Shodan"
products = GSM
homepage = [http://www.roshan.af/ www.roshan.af]

Roshan (Persian: روشن) is the leading GSM mobile provider and largest telecom operator in Afghanistan with the largest network serving more than 2 million active customers, or more than 43% of the market. On January 9, 2003, Telecom Development Company (TDCA) was issued the second GSM license for Afghanistan. The company commercially launched on July 27, 2003. TDCA trades under the name of Roshan. “Roshan” means “light” in Dari and Pashto, the two most widely spoken languages in the country.

Roshan is currently the largest investor in Afghanistan, with over $338 million invested since 2003. Of the company’s 950 employees, 20% are women. Indirectly, the company has added over 20,000 jobs to the Afghan economy through its top-up stations, retail stores and public call offices. Additionally, Roshan is Afghanistan’s largest taxpayer and has contributed $110 million in taxes to the Afghan government through to the end of 2006. This has accounted for approximately 6% of the Afghan Government’s overall domestic revenue. Roshan currently provides services to 224 cities within Afghanistan and in 33 of the country’s 34 provinces.

hareholders

Roshan is owned by an international consortium made up of the following shareholders:

• The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) – 51%

• Monaco Telecom International (MTI), a subsidiary of Cable & Wireless – 36.75%

• TeliaSonera AB – 12.25%

Competition

Roshan is the largest telecom provider in Afghanistan. Major competitors include Etisalat, MTN/Areeba, and Afghan Wireless.

Products and services

Corporate social responsibility

Roshan’s social arm, Roshan Social Programs, aims to be a driver in the reconstruction of Afghanistan by investing in the communities in which Roshan operates. Roshan Social Programs seeks to reduce distress and provide opportunities for a better future, and believes in education to build human potential and capacity.

Roshan Social Programs support Afghans through programs in education, health, social development, and commerce. Some of the endeavors undertaken by Roshan include:

• Spearheading the development of a Telemedicine project to provide in-country access to specialist diagnosis and training resources by linking hospitals in Afghanistan to international centers of medical excellence.

• Training of medical technicians in cooperation with Ministry of Public Health, French Medical Institute for Children and Aga Khan University Hospital.

• Establishment over 2,400 PCO businesses to provide new jobs to Afghans

• Sponsorship of a soup kitchen project for homeless Afghan children in association with the Afghan Street Working Children and New Approach . Over 50,000 meals are distributed per month - over 500,000 per year.

• Sponsorship of the Afghan Olympic and Para-Olympic teams to promote the integration and recognition of the contribution of people with disabilities.

• Initiation of the construction of playgrounds in Herat, Kunduz, Khost, Kabul and Shibergan. These are the first six of many playgrounds planned for construction throughout Afghanistan over the next 3-5 years. The playgrounds will create a sense of pride in the communities in which they are built, and will promote the development of schools, businesses and other community services in the area.

• Implementation of a creative solution to compensate for the shortage of educational material through the purchase, dubbing and broadcast of high quality internationally recognized educational children’s TV programs.

• Publishing of “Stars Sing Out” an International Charity CD to raise funds and awareness for Afghanistan’s children.

• Commencement of E-Learning classes for women to access technology in Taimany, Charkala and Bamiyan.

• Partnership with Pamir Energy Company from Tajikistan to bring electrical power to Afghan Badakhshan.

• Drilling of water wells for several communities without access to drinking water in Afghanistan.

Awards and recognition

Roshan’s work in Afghanistan has received international recognition and acclaim:

Best GSM Marketing Campaign, Cannes, February 2005

Roshan was awarded the Best Marketing Campaign at the 10th Annual GSM Association Awards held in Cannes, France in February 2005. Roshan was one of 450 entries, 60 nominations, and 13 winners. Roshan beat out companies including Motorola, Vodafone UK, Safaricom and Airtel in India to win this prestigious award.

Best Telecom Brand of the Year, Dubai, September 2006

Roshan was also selected by the judges as the Best Brand, Telecoms Brand of the Year Award in the inaugural CommsMEA Awards, open to all industry professionals and operators in the Middle East and Africa region. Roshan competed with other well-established and larger regional operators from the entire region. The award ceremony was held in Dubai on September 11, 2006.

Best Operator in a Developing Market, London, November 2006

At the 8th World Communications Award on November 9, 2006, Roshan beat out major international operators such as Mobilink (Pakistan), Afsat (Kenya), Mobilnil (Egypt) and Nuevatel (Bolivia) to win Best Operator in a Developing Market.

Special Recognition for Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy, New York, February 2007

Roshan and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) received special recognition for Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy from the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP). The prize acknowledges Roshan’s unprecedented investments in socio-economic development in Afghanistan. This honor, specifically created in recognition of the innovative reinvestment model implemented jointly by AKDN and Roshan, was made public on February 26, 2007 at the 7th annual award ceremony in New York. Previous winners of the Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award include Cisco Systems, GE, Novartis, Pfizer, Target, IBM, Merck, Grand Circle Corporate, Arch Chemical, Hasbro, Whole Foods Market and Timberland.

Customer Service Provider of the Year

On September 3, 2007, Roshan won the Best Service Provider of the Year at the 2nd annual CommsMEA Awards in Dubai. The annual CommsMEA Awards recognizes and rewards telecommunications industry professionals and operators that have shown outstanding performance and results in key market segments. The awards recognize outstanding performance in 13 key areas of the telecommunications industry in the Middle East and Africa, and were judged by a high profile panel of telecommunication experts.

References

1. [http://www.roshan.af/ Official Website]
2. [http://www.economist.com/people/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8810997 The Economist: Shining a Light]
3. Hisham, Hishamuddin (11/3/2007)1500 Public Call Office to Be Established in Rural Areas of Afghanistan, Anis Newspaper
4. [http://www.wirelesshealthcare.co.uk/wh/news/wk25-07-0001.htm] (6/21/2007) Roshan And Cisco To Take Telemedicine To Afghanistan, Wireless Healthcare
5. [http://www.pr9.net/business/telecom/2071july.html] (7/25/2005) Org Infomatics

ee also

*List of Afghan companies