Tajikistan has established its first National Internet Exchange Point (IXP), named TJ-IX (Tajikistan Internet Exchange), based at the state-owned company Tojiktelekom. The project was reportedly implemented with the support of the Communications Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.
“This is a key milestone in the development of the country’s digital infrastructure. TJ-IX is a technological platform that enables direct internet traffic exchange between providers and other organizations. The goal of launching the IXP is to improve the speed and quality of internet services, reduce data transmission delays, decrease dependence on international routes, and support Tajikistan’s digital independence,” an official source within the communications service agency committee told Asia-Plus in an interview.
He, in particular, emphasized that TJ-IX’s main objectives are to reduce latency, increase access speeds, and lower costs related to international internet traffic.
TJ-IX reportedly offers participants significant advantages, including direct traffic exchange, reduced load on communication channels, higher quality connections, straightforward connection terms, and support for both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols.
The network’s bandwidth capacity reaches up to 500 Gbps, with a guaranteed uptime of 99.99%. The system also includes comprehensive monitoring and security measures.
“Internet service providers (ISPs), government agencies, private companies, educational institutions, data centers, and content delivery networks (CDNs) are eligible to connect to the IXP. Looking ahead, plans include expanding the project by establishing regional access points throughout the country, integrating with international digital platforms, and connecting university networks,” the source, adding that the launch of TJ-IX is an important step toward building an independent, reliable, and high-quality internet infrastructure in Tajikistan, which will help strengthen the country’s digital sovereignty.
As it had been reported earlier, the Tajik authorities established the Unified Electronic Communications Switching Center, which is known by its Russian abbreviation EKTs, in 2016 and required that all Internet and mobile communications traffic be run through the single state-owned telecoms provider Tojiktelecom. The Center centralizes all telephone and Internet communications with the aim of facilitating surveillance on the grounds of combatting terrorism and extremism. It allows the government to have complete control over domestic communications without any safeguards. The idea of creating a government-administered information gateway has been circulating since 2005. The stated aim of the recurring initiative has been to prevent “illegal” communications that could undermine national security.
