Telecommunication - The Times Of Central Asia

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Economy Azerbaijan Telecommunication Caspian Sea

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to Invest in Fiber Optic Cables in Caspian Sea

More than $50 million will be invested by Kazakhstani and Azerbaijani operators in laying fiber optic fiber along the bottom of the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan's minister of digital development Zhaslan Madiev has announced: "Today, a joint venture between Kazakhtelecom JSC (Kazakhstan's national telecommunications company) and Azertelecom LLC has been established, and a tender to select a contractor for designing and laying an underwater FOCL is being finalized." The laying of optics on the bottom of the Caspian Sea will total 370 kilometers. "Investments of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan telecom operators will total more than 23 billion tenges ($50.6 million)." Madiev also said that introducing 5G mobile communication in Kazakhstan should be completed by the end of 2025. According to him, by the end of 2027 cellular operators will invest almost $1 billion in the country's telecommunications industry. The Trans-Caspian fiber-optic communication line (FOCL) project along the Caspian Sea bed is part of the Digital Silk Road project, which envisages the creation of a digital telecommunications corridor between Europe and Asia. Earlier, it was reported that the deadline for the project's realization was 2025.

Digital Silk road Telecommunication Internet Foreign Investment

Kazakhstan to Establish 5G Mobile Coverage by 2026

On June 18, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Zhaslan Madiev updated the government on progress on improvements to the country’s Internet and mobile communication. International data indicates that the share of the population using the Internet in Kazakhstan is now on par with that of developed countries. Traffic growth has increased by 61.5% since 2020, and the number of users, by 12.9%. According to Speedtest Ookla, in April 2024, Kazakhstan ranked 66th with an average Internet speed of 43.6 Mbps, higher than Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Wired Internet is currently available in 2,606 of Kazakhstan’s 6,290 villages, with plans in place to connect optical communication lines through the PPP mechanism to 3,010 villages. Mobile Internet is now accessible in 4,866 villages. As part of tax incentives in 2023, 1,161 villages were connected to 4G technology. Work to connect the remaining 1,424 villages is ongoing. Regarding the further development of 5G technology, operators Kcell and Tele2 will continue work to expand 5G coverage in the cities of Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, as well as regional centres. To date, 1,144 base stations have been installed in 20 cities. “In accordance with instructions issued by the Head of State, the introduction of 5G mobile communications should be completed before the end of 2025,” reported the minister. Madiev then outlined the three steps required to develop the Digital Silk Road and turn Kazakhstan into a regional digital hub. The first is to lay a 370-kilometer fiber-optic line along the bed of the Caspian Sea with investment by telecom operators in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan amounting to more than 23 billion tenge. A joint venture has been created between Kazakhtelecom JSC and Azertelecom LLC, and a tender to select a contractor for the design and installation of an underwater fibre-optic line is underway. The second is the construction of the national West-East Internet hyper highway, which will increase Internet transit traffic across Kazakhstan. The final step is the construction of a data processing centre, no lower than Tier-III level, for storing transit and international traffic.

Telecommunication

Investigation Launched into Mobile Operators

The Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition of the Republic of Kazakhstan has established that in 2023, a significant price increase from 7.7% to 57.3% was recorded according to the tariff plans of mobile operators, who increased the cost of services provided on more than 30 plans with a monthly subscription fee. “Taking into account paragraph 3 of Article 199 of the Entrepreneurial Code in connection with the repeated detection of signs of anti-competitive coordinated actions in the calendar year, the Agency has now launched investigations against mobile operators Kcell JSC, MT–S LLP (Tele2/Altel) and Kar-Tel LLP (Beeline) under Article 170 of the Entrepreneurial Code," the Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition of the Republic of Kazakhstan said in a statement. Earlier, the Agency had detected signs of anti-competitive coordinated actions by mobile operators in setting the cost of calls per minute and SMS services. In this regard, notifications were sent to mobile operators to reasonably reduce their pricing. The Agency stated that in case of non-compliance by the operators within an established time-frame, an investigation would be launched.

Internet Telecommunication

Quality of Communications Checked in Multiple Regions

The results of monitoring the quality of mobile communications in the cities and districts of Nurek, Dangara, Vose and Kulyab were presented to the Head of the Communications Service of Tajikistan, Bek Sabur, who arrived on a working visit to the Khatlon region. His visit is connected to the implementation of a decree from the President of Tajikistan "On measures to expand non-cash payments." According to various sources, the level and quality of communications do not meet the requirements. The press service of the Tajik Communications Service reported that Sabur, together with specialists, tested mobile communications in Nurek, Dangar, Vos and Kulyab. "The main purpose of the trip is to determine the accuracy of coverage of base stations in populated areas and identify problems," the press service stated. As a result of the technical inspection, it transpired that not all areas meet the quality requirements for communications. In addition, operator coverage was weak in some places. "The management of the Communications Service ordered providers to install additional stations at the same time as updating the existing ones," the department noted, adding that Sabur held a meeting with the residents of Khatlon to get their opinion on the level and quality of mobile communications. Sabur's visit followed reports received from all over Tajikistan about the low quality of mobile operator services. Tajiks often complain about slow Internet and poor communication. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of infrastructure development. It is also affected by poor energy supply and insufficient development of modern communication technologies in the country. As a result, a significant part of the population has difficulty accessing the Internet. Another problem is the lack of investment in the country's telecommunications industry, although this is slowly being corrected. For example, Tajikistan and China recently signed an agreement that provides for the supply of Chinese equipment to the Republic, which will help improve the quality of the Internet. Tajikistan has also agreed to cooperate with two Russian companies - PITER IX and Digit – in this area. Sabur instructed officials and mobile companies to urgently eliminate the identified shortcomings in order to provide all regions with stable communications and Internet following the Presidential decree.

Telecommunication Russia

“Updates and Reforms”: Communications Service Expands Cooperation with Russian Federation

The establishment of cooperation with Russian companies gives a new impetus to the process of reforming and updating mobile communication networks in Tajikistan, the Communications Service of Tajikistan has stated, adding that a memorandum of cooperation has been signed with the Russian company, PITER IX in Dushanbe. The main purpose of the memorandum is to facilitate the process of modernization and reform in the telecommunications sector in the country. The Communications Service stated that the agreement provides for the introduction of information and communication technologies, the development of an electronic business system, access to broadband internet, and the distribution of 4G LTE and 5G-ce throughout the republic Earlier, the Communications Service signed a memorandum of understanding with the Moscow company, Digit, in the field of network security, which provides for the holding of joint seminars and events to strengthen cooperation in the information sphere, as well as communication technologies.

Telecommunication Bilateral Relations

Tajikistan to Connect with China’s Telecommunications Network

According to RFE/RL's report on November 17th, Tajikistan unveiled intentions to integrate with China's telecommunications network as part of efforts to enhance internet accessibility in the country, which is ensconced in mountainous terrain and lacks direct access to the sea. This move aligns with the expanding influence of Beijing in Central Asia. Despite recent progress, Tajikistan still grapples with one of the world's slowest internet services, routing all traffic through a government-controlled center. As disclosed by the state news agency Khovar, the initiative coincides with the construction of a highway linking Dushanbe, the nation's capital situated in the western region, to a town bordering China.