Roshan (telecommunications)

Roshan is a telecommunications development company located in Afghanistan. It is a total communications provider with 6 million active subscribers and a network that covers over 287 districts and cities in all of the country's 34 provinces.

History
In October 2017, a cooperation with the Wikimedia Foundation that had already begun on September 29, 2017, was announced, which was intended to provide customers with free access to Wikipedia and its sister projects, so no data volume would be charged for connections for this purpose. The cooperation was part of the Wikipedia Zero project, which was discontinued by the Wikimedia Foundation in February 2018. Accordingly, the existing agreement with Roshan expired on December 15, 2018, without renewal.

Shareholders
Roshan was originally founded under the ownership of the following companies:


 * 51%—Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) - Part of Aga Khan Development Network
 * 35%—Monaco Telecom International (MTI), subsidiary of NJJ Capital (55%—since 2014, acquired from Cable & Wireless) and Principality of Monaco over Société Nationale de Financement (45%)
 * 9%—MCT Corporation (former U.S. company involved in joint ventures in the telecommunications sector in Russia and Central Asia - now part of TeliaSonera)
 * 5%—Alcatel

The investments were held through the Telecom Development Company of Afghanistan B.V., based in Amsterdam, which holds 100% of the shares of the Telecom Development Company of Afghanistan Ltd..

In July 2004, Alcatel sold its 5% stake, distributing 3.25% to MCT and 1.75% to MTI.

As of July 31, 2020, TeliaSonera sold its 12.25% stake, and Monaco Telecom sold its 36.75% stake, each to AKFED, making it the sole owner.