In 2005, the Afghan Ministry of Communications spun it off into a private entity, while retaining oversight and control.

[1] AfTel has roughly 200,000 employees in 34 provincial capitals and 254 district centers and villages.

It offers traditional wire-line telephones and internet access in the major cities, a third generation GSM-based wireless local loop telephony, a 4G LTE and fiber-based internet services, based on switching, wireless access and satellite equipment.

[citation needed] Afghan Telecom is a beneficiary of a USD $500 million World Bank grant to help government increase telecommunications network connectivity in Afghanistan.

Seeking to grow its five percent market share, Afghan Telecom acquired access to 60 to 70 mobile towers owned by Etisalat.