Afghan Telecom (AfTel) is a telecom company offering fixed line, wireless voice and data services under a 25-year license in Afghanistan. The company is government owned and operated. In 2005, the Afghan Ministry of Communications spun it off into a private entity, while retaining oversight and control. Afghan Telecom is a beneficiary of a USD $50 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.