Sanctioned Russian Company Builds 4G Network In Afghanistan

The Russian newspaper Vedomosti has reported that Protey, a Russian company currently under US sanctions, has installed 4G network antennas across Afghanistan.

According to the report, the antennas have been deployed in four provinces and are capable of providing telecommunications services to up to 10 million people.

The report, published Thursday, 5 June, states that St Petersburg-based Protey has established a core 4G network in Afghanistan, marking the first time the company has exported its technology outside Russia.

The network was reportedly developed in partnership with the state-owned telecom giant Rostelecom and is considered the first fully domestic Russian solution designed to replace foreign hardware and software.

Protey entered the Afghan market after major telecom companies such as Ericsson and Nokia exited the country, and Chinese firms including Huawei and ZTE significantly scaled back operations, changes that followed the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Alesya Mamchur, Rostelecom vice president, confirmed that the network had been installed in four Afghan provinces, though she did not specify which ones. She added that the infrastructure could serve an estimated 10 million users.

Russian analysts have noted that Protey’s operations in Afghanistan could serve as a launchpad for expansion into other markets in the Global South.

Protey was placed under US sanctions last year for its involvement in sectors deemed to support Russia’s military-industrial base.