Companies should raise the cost of internet and communications services due to high expenses and the need to replenish the state budget, acting head of the Communications and Information Management Department at the Communications Service under the Government of Tajikistan, Rafiqjon Shokirov, told reporters in Dushanbe on July 24 summarizing the Service's activities over the first six months of this year.
According to him, only one company, Megafon Tajikistan, has raised prices so far, while the rates of other mobile operators remain unchanged.
"Companies have upgraded their equipment, purchased additional batteries, and generators following the nationwide power outage in March. Additionally, the national budget needs to be replenished. Budget replenishment is a priority at all government meetings. Therefore, Megafon Tajikistan reviewed its service costs and decided to slightly increase tariffs. At the same time, the internet has become more accessible," he said.
Shokirov explained that internet accessibility means increasing the number of megabytes in each specific tariff, not lowering prices.
In April 2024, after mobile operators unilaterally raised tariffs, the communications service agency issued a statement saying that “mobile companies should increase internet speed, not the cost of internet and mobile communication.”
Numerous questions from journalists about the reasons for the low speed and high cost of the internet in Tajikistan went unanswered.
Shokirov claimed that reports of low internet speeds and high costs in Tajikistan are “lies and fabrications.” “The cost and speed of communication and the internet in Tajikistan depend on the conditions and state of life in the country today,” he continued.
Shokirov questioned the reliability of reports from foreign rating companies about internet speed, cost, and accessibility. According to him, these reports do not consider all factors and are published to portray some countries negatively. “Such studies typically account for the total population of the country. At the same time, children under 5 years old, who make up almost 2 million of the population and do not use communication services, are not excluded from the calculations," Shokirov said. In his opinion, such studies do not consider this indicator in other countries, “only in Tajikistan are children also counted.”
During the news conference, Shokirov also mentioned that the Communications Service had considered blocking the social network TikTok but “journalists opposed this.” He did not explain when and why this issue was discussed.
Meanwhile, according to the Mobile Data Affordability Index, the average cost of internet in Tajikistan is US$1.65 per 1 GB. In neighboring countries, prices are lower: in Kyrgyzstan, 1 GB of internet costs US$0.17, in Uzbekistan US$0.30, and in Kazakhstan US$0.41.
A year and a half ago, the communications service agency promised to improve internet speed in Tajikistan and reduce its prices. This was announced in January 2023 during a news conference given by the deputy head of the communications service agency, Ilhom Atoyev. This promise likely resulted from criticism by President Emomali Rahmon. During his address to both chambers of parliament in December 2022, the head of state instructed the communications service agency to take measures to improve the quality and speed of the internet and make it cheaper. He also ordered a reduction in the cost of mobile communication services.
