Afghanistan's Taliban-led Ministry of Communications and Information Technology launched a 5G pilot in Kabul on April 30, 2026, partnering with Afghan Wireless Communications Company (AWCC) to deploy the technology. AWCC, which serves approximately 5.5 million customers, confirmed it had begun testing 5G equipment the previous month and plans to expand services nationwide once technical preparations are complete. The pilot involved upgrading 74 base stations in Kabul with 5G technology, with 46 new telecom sites built and operational since the start of 2026, alongside 186 additional sites under construction. This initiative follows Pakistan's launch of 5G services the prior month, positioning Afghanistan to compete in regional connectivity advancements. The partnership aims to modernize Afghanistan's telecom infrastructure amid broader digital transformation efforts in South Asia.