ATRA members are organized into 13 departments that drive and promote synergy between service delivery, research, and innovation. The departments are our functional units that manage day-to-day activities and deliver based on their ToR and decisions made by the ATRA Board and the Department. Each department is actively involved in serving our licensees, consumers, and government entities—all of which stimulate cross-functional collaboration and innovation, and deliver results that help with the growth and development of the ICT sector.
Telecom Oversight and Control Department:
The Telecom Oversight and Control Department is a key executive department of ATRA. Its main responsibility is to ascertain that the terms and conditions of the telecom-related licenses issued by ATRA are properly followed and implemented by the licensees and other responsible entities in the market. The department proactively monitors the sector to prevent any ineligible or illegal activities. Further, the department develops its regular monitoring plans, assigns auditors to audit the performance and activities of ATRA’s licensees, oversees the quality of telecom infrastructure built by different companies, reports back to ATRA’s leadership, and takes corrective actions. The Telecom Oversight and Control Dept also receives consumer complaints and grievances regarding the telecom and related services in Afghanistan, it responds to the grievances and works with the Mobile Network Operations, ISPs, and other telecom service providers to address and resolve consumer complaints.
Development and Planning Department:
The Development and Planning Department is mainly tasked with developing plans and strategies to improve access to telecom services for Afghans from all walks of life, including those areas that are not currently covered by telecom services. The department is also tasked with promoting innovations and investing to gain standard knowledge and equipment for the telecom market in Afghanistan. The DP department is in charge of managing TDF funds and working with partner organizations to develop telecom infrastructure and services. This sector is used to enable innovation, service delivery, and other sectors in Afghanistan.
The DP department develops TDF strategic plans, receives approval from the ATRA board and High Council, and manages the receipt of TDF grant proposals. It also oversees and monitors TDF-funded projects by closely working with partner government and non-government organizations, including the private sector.
Spectrum Management Department:
The Spectrum Department is working with MNOs, ISPs, and other licensees of ATRA to manage and fairly allocate the national spectrum in Afghanistan. Like any other natural resource, the spectrum is also a natural resource of a country that needs to be properly managed and regulated for the efficient usage of the spectrum for wireless services. All the functions of spectrum management are governed by wireless laws, bylaws, and procedures. Spectrum management in ATRA is responsible for allocating spectrum to various services, terrestrial and satellite, in low, mid, and high band ranges.
Key Functions:
• Allocation of the radio frequency spectrum to broad categories of user groups.
• Orbit-frequency coordination with regional and international radio communication bodies.
• Promotes competition in the provision of services using the radio frequency spectrum.
• Plans, allocates, controls, and manages the use of radio frequency in conformity with applicable regional and international radio communication plans.
Legal & Licensing Department:
ATRA issues licenses and permits for ICT service providers, including telecom, IT, ITeS, digital media, and postal. In addition to licenses, we issue spectrum and equipment import permits. ATRA has 8 types of licenses that are issued based on an application form, which will go through an evaluation and approval process by our Legal and Licensing Department, Board of Directors, and occasionally by our High Council and the High Economic Council. It takes 1–90 days for a license/permit to be issued, depending on the type of authorization.