![\"Roshan\"](\"https:\/\/i4tsk12in2b2y7uts14c528g-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/12\/Roshan.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nUniqueness of the Roshan Telecommunications Business Model<\/strong><\/span> <\/p>\n (Top) Cell tower Construction by company within Afghanistan as of 2013<\/p>\n (Bottom) United Nations Data on security risk level within Afghanistan\u2019s Provinces<\/p>\n Operational Model for Roshan<\/strong><\/span> Train a skilled local workforce with external assistance<\/strong> Leverage community status, not arms to ensure security<\/strong> Harness foreign expertise to build but utilize organic distribution network to capture value:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n While Roshan\u2019s marketing focused on the company\u2019s assistance to the community they leveraged resources of their investors to rapidly expand their cell network. Through partnerships with Monaco Telecom International and TeliaSonera they had the expertise and funds necessary to rapidly build up their capacity and capture market share through networking effects . In keeping with their local focus however they created the far more visible distribution network by motivating preexisting local trade networks to sell pay-as-you go cards. Through extending small loans to traders, and offering substantial margins to these key influencers Roshan further ingrained its services to the community.<\/span><\/p>\n Combining Operational and Business Models<\/strong><\/span> <\/p>\n Works Cited<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Afghanistan: CIA World Factbook https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/geos\/af.html<\/a> accessed 4 December 2015<\/p>\n Afghan Telecoms Status. Online http:\/\/discourse.apn.af\/state-telecoms-internet-afghanistan-glance\/<\/a> Accessed 07 December 2015<\/p>\n Bishop, March personal interview conducted on 9 December 2015<\/p>\n Brinkley, Joel \u201cMoney Pit: The Monstrous Failure of US Aid to Afghanistan\u201d World Affairs January\/February 2013 http:\/\/www.worldaffairsjournal.org\/article\/money-pit-monstrous-failure-us-aid-afghanistan<\/a> accessed 2 December 2015<\/p>\n Leonard, Herman and Dhani, Qahir \u201cRoshan: Light at the end of the tunnel in Afghanistan\u201d 性视界 Business School Case N1-310-041, 性视界 7 October 2009<\/p>\n
\nRoshan, Pashtu for \u201clight\u201d and \u201chope\u201d, was founded by Karim Khoja in 2002 with the express purpose of \u201cto spearhead economic development and to facilitate greater social cohesion in Afghanistan through the introduction of accessible telecommunications technology.\u201d Under the guidance of its major investor, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, the firm\u2019s business model aimed to achieve profitability and also to serving as a long-term driver of economic development. Over the past ten years the company has expanded to 230 cities and villages in all 34 provinces and has been profitable since their sixth month. In this process they have become the single-largest private investor and taxpayer within Afghanistan contributing over 5% of the government\u2019s domestic revenue. Integral to their success has been successful with their commitment to social development. While Roshan was not the first telecommunications company in Afghanistan, they are the most successful and a key driver in their ability to gain and maintain market-share stems from their success in marketing themselves to the Afghan population as integral to the social fabric.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nBuilding a telecommunications network in Afghanistan has multitude of challenges but the three preeminent ones are lack of a skilled workforce, security issues throughout the country and total lack of existing distribution networks or infrastructure. The Roshan operational model addresses each of these shortfalls in ways that align with their overarching business model<\/p>\n
\nWhen Roshan began hiring for employees they rapidly found out that the Afghan educational system, which had languished under the Taliban, was ill equipped to provide the required engineers. After initial frustrations the Chief Technology Officer decreed that \u201cif a candidate could speak some English and turn on a computer, he would be hired.\u201d Roshan than leveraged international experts to provide on the job training but the core employee base was Afghans and the company was able to market this fact in their to portraying themselves as a national resource. In a measure of this success as of 2012 they directly employ more than 1,300 people and indirectly contribute to the employment of 30,000 more through their vendors.<\/p>\n
\nThroughout Roshan\u2019s history Afghanistan has been one of the most violent places in the world. However, despite the Taliban regaining influence outside of Kabul, Roshan has been able to progressively reduce its expenditures on security. Much of Roshan\u2019s protection from the Taliban has stemmed from its broadcasting via media campaigns and word-of-mouth of its assistance to Afghan communities. In this regard, the Aga Khan Fund\u2019s business model of providing aid to the community tied exceptionally well with Roshan\u2019s ability to portray itself as a national asset for the Afghan people. This same community focus was applied down to the most tactical level. For example after an increase in attacks on towers in 2008 Roshan enhanced local relationships with the community to secure its infrastructure, rather than adding armed security. Through putting responsibility on organic local community leaders, rather than third party contractors to secure Roshan property the company was able to actually drop security costs, decrease attacks and put more money into the community. Being seen as a community asset also enabled Roshan to decline paying bribes to either corrupt officials or the Taliban, which cost other competitors time, capital and credibility.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nToday Roshan is the dominant player within a robust Afghan telecommunications sector. Roshan continues to be profitable and operationally successful largely because Afghans, including the Taliban, perceive the company\u2019s business model as performing a greater good for the people of Afghanistan. While since 2008 the market has become increasingly competitive, Roshan continues to reinforce its position through reinvesting its profits into infrastructure in even more remote areas and additional social programs. The company has constructed playgrounds, often in contested areas and invested heavily in education through the One Laptop Per Child Foundation. More recently they have expanded into data and money transfer services to address underserved markets within the country . While these programs in the short-term are not operationally profitable, they reflect the continued manner in which a company with a longer-term business plan can differentiate itself from peers to gain a competitive advantage. Moreover, they illustrate how a company with well aligned business and operational models can succeed in creating development where billions of dollars in donor money continue to fail.<\/p>\n