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Afghanistan?s second Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) licence was awarded on Saturday to an international consortium with strong regional connections led by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) and comprising Monaco Telecom International (MTI), U.S.-based MCT Corp. and worldwide telecommunications leader Alcatel. The award of the tender to AKFED will now proceed for ratification by the Council of Ministers chaired by President Hamid Karzai.

Afghanistan ( news - web sites) has licensed an international consortium led by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) to set up its second mobile phone network, the fund said in a statement on Saturday.
The Geneva-based AKFED said it had a 51 percent stake in the project, while Monaco Telecom International (MTI) will hold 35 percent of the equity, U.S.-based MCT Corp nine percent and French telecoms giant Alcatel five percent.

AN international consortium formed by the Agha Khan's charity foundation has been named as Afghanistan's second mobile phone service provider after winning the country's first ever public tender contract.
The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) was granted the Global System for Mobile (GSM) licence after beating six other bidders in a heavily scrutinised tendering process organised as the blueprint for future government contracts.