Active Development AidData Chinese Aid

China-Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan-Afghanistan fiber optic network [BRI] (link to Record ID#54396)

Funder	Unspecified Chinese Government Institution
Recipient Organization	Asia, regional
Country	Asia, regional
Start Date	Sep 25, 2017
End Date	Nov 06, 2027
Duration	3,694 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`54450`

Grant Description

On September 25, 2017, China Telecom and Afghanistan Telecom signed a cooperation agreement for the Silk Road Cable Project, which would connect countries with China via fiber optic networks.

By November 2017, China Telecom and the Ambassador of Afghanistan to China, with authorization from Afghanistan Telecom, signed strategic cooperation agreements with Kyrgyz and Tajik telecom operators for a fiber optic network that would link China, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan under the Silk Road Cable Project.

This project falls under the Digital Silk Road announced by China in 2015, which is the third component of the Belt and Road Initiative. The total cost of this project is unclear, and the source and type of funding is also unclear.

China and Afghanistan have commenced work on a project connecting China and Afghanistan via a fiber optic network that passes through the Wakhan corridor, which falls under the Silk Road Cable Project (see Record ID#54396). The fiber optic links with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have not advanced since the 2017 cooperation agreement.

📋 Staff Comments

The project is under the plan of 'Digital Silk Plan'. 2017 saw the signing of two MOUs for expansion of the Optical Fiber Cable connecting Afghanistan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan, and a new MOU is expected to be signed at RECCA-VII by Turkmenistan , Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

📚 Sources & References

CHINA TELECOM AND AFGHANISTAN TELECOM START FIBER OPTIC CABLE PROJECT
Deepening Connectivity & Expanding Trade: Through Investment in Infrastructure & Improving Synergy Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.