DUSHABE, February 19, Asia-Plus – Open joint-stock company (OJSC) Tajik Telecom, Tajikistan’s state-owned national telecommunications operator, is making preparations for gradually installing wireless telecommunications network based on the WLL (Wireless Local Loop) technology in the CDMA standard in rural areas of the country.
A source at Tajik Telecom said that work on installing the wireless network started in Dushanbe last year and it will be carried out stage-by-stage during several years. “In the regions, the work will start in remote mountain areas and Tajik Telecom may possibly announce a tender for modernization of its fixed-line telecommunications network already this year,” the source said.
In Dushanbe, Tajik Telecom has used WLL technology since February 2006.
The State Communications Oversight and Regulatory Service of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) said that there is considerable demand in Tajikistan for new business and residential telephone service.
According to the Service, more and more operators are looking to wireless technologies to rapidly provide thousands of new subscribers with high-quality telephone service at a reasonable price. At present besides Tajik Telecom, two other Tajik companies – Telecom Technology Ltd and Intercom – also use WLL technology to provide services to their subscribers.
Existing landline operators can extend their network with WLL and cellular operators can capitalize on their current network to deliver residential service with WLL. New service providers can quickly deploy non-traditional WLL solutions to rapidly meet a community”s telephony.
The unique features and benefits of CDMA make it an excellent technology choice for fixed wireless telephone systems.
Tajikistan’s national fixed-line operator Tajik Telecom was established as open joint-stock company in 1996. At present it has 74 branches across the country.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has supported modernization of the country’s telecommunications network through investing in new digital infrastructure establishment of digital switching and transmission equipment in Dushanbe and regional centers.
According to information posted on Tajik Telecom website, EBRD has provided a long-term loan of $13 million to Tajik Telecom and the Switzerland has co-financed the project with a $2 million grant.
