The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), the leading sponsor with 51% of the equity in the operating company is the economic development arm of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, non-denominational development agencies seeking to improve opportunities and living conditions in specific regions of the developing world, especially Africa and Asia. Present in Central Asia since 1995, AKFED is also involved in the microcredit and financial services sectors in Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. Active in the fields of industry, financial services, tourism development and infrastructure in eighteen countries across South and Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, AKFED operates as a network of affiliates with more than 90 separate project companies employing over 18,000 people and controlling assets in excess of US$1.5 billion.

The Aga Khan Development Network, which has been supporting humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation in Afghanistan since 1996, works for the common good of all citizens, regardless of their gender, origin or religion and its underlying impulse is the ethic of compassion for the vulnerable in society. Its programmes in Afghanistan come under a comprehensive development agreement by the Aga Khan and President Hamid Karzai in March of this year.

Click here to read more about AKFED and AKDN on their website

Monaco Telecom International (MTI) holds a 36.75% stake and is a 100% subsidiary of the Monaco Telecom Group, the incumbent operator for the principality of Monaco. Monaco Telecom Group was created in 1997 out of the Principality's administrative service, the Office Monegasque des Telecommunications. Since 2004, the Monaco Telecom Group shareholding is 49% Cable & Wireless, 45% Principality of Monaco and 6% Compagnie Monegasque de Banque. MTI has operations in Afghanistan, Algeria, Kosovo and Tunisia.

Click here to read more about MTI on their website