Tajikistan routinely ranks toward the bottom of international standings in terms of mobile Internet offered by domestic Internet service providers (ISPs).
The Mobile Data Affordability Index by Broadband Genie ranks Tajikistan 163rd among 179 countries in terms of access to mobile Internet.
The Central Asian region reportedly has the cheapest mobile data plans, with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan phone contracts averaging below 10.00 US dollars. However, the region also has the second-lowest wages in the world.
Mobile data as a percentage of salary: 3.35%
Average phone plan cost: USD 8.88
Countries tested: Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Tajikistan; and Uzbekistan.
Total tariffs measured: 571
In Tajikistan, where an average monthly wage amounts to 170.00 US dollars, an average phone plan cost is 13.77 US dollars. Thus, the mobile data as a percentage of salary in Tajikistan amounts 8.09 percent.
As far as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are concerned, they reportedly rank 43rd, 63rd and 90th, respectively.
Even neighboring Afghanistan ranks higher than Tajikistan in terms of mobile Internet affordability. Afghanistan reportedly ranks 161st among 179 countries. In Afghanistan, the mobile data as a percentage of salary amounts 7.62 percent.
Singapore (mobile data as a percentage of salary: 0.35%; phone plan cost: USD 17.13 and total tariffs measured: 454), Luxembourg (mobile data as a percentage of salary: 0.40%; phone plan cost: USD 21.16; and total tariffs measured: 174), Israel (mobile data as a percentage of salary: 0.47%; phone plan cost: USD 12.20; and total tariffs measured: 629), Iceland (mobile data as a percentage of salary: 0.51%; phone plan cost: USD 23.52; and total tariffs measured: 173), and the United Kingdom (mobile data as a percentage of salary: 0.52%; phone plan cost: USD 15.38; and total tariffs measured: 3,098) are the countries with the most affordable mobile data.
Guinea (mobile data as a percentage of salary: 56.29%; phone plan cost: USD 115.58; and total tariffs measured: 3), Zambia (mobile data as a percentage of salary: 30.29%; phone plan cost: USD 41.25; and total tariffs measured: 17), Ivory Coast (mobile data as a percentage of salary: 23.20%; phone plan cost: USD 41.25; and total tariffs measured: 25), Syria (mobile data as a percentage of salary: 22.11; phone plan cost: USD 9.91; and total tariffs measured: 30), and Papua New Guinea (mobile data as a percentage of salary:21.81%; phone plan cost: USD 62.81; and total tariffs measured: 9) are the countries with the least affordable mobile data
Broadband Genie notes that mobile data allows people connecting to the internet from their device from anywhere, as long as they have a mobile internet connection, such as 4G.
It is reported that while the majority of countries mainly use mobile data for lighter activities such as emails, social media, messaging or VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) apps (such as WhatsApp), this isn’t the case for all countries. In areas where there is a limited fixed-line connection infrastructure, mobile data is reportedly the go-to for internet connectivity — essential for employers, education, and healthcare.
The company compared the average cost of a mobile phone monthly plan with 10GB+ data against average wages to determine the mobile data affordability rating for 179 countries worldwide. Broadband Genie compared the average reported monthly mobile phone bill with 10GB+ of mobile data against the average wage for people from 179 countries to work out the cost of internet as a percentage of salary.
