Tajikistan’s telecommunications sector is poised for significant growth over the next two years, with average annual revenue increases of 6.75% forecasted through 2027, according to a joint market study by Nexign and TelecomDaily.
The study reveals that telecom revenues in Tajikistan rose by 9.6% in 2024, reaching 4.36 billion somonis (approximately US$400 million). This growth is being driven by infrastructure upgrades, expanding 4G coverage, and the initial rollout of 5G networks. The market continues to be dominated by mobile and internet services.
The report also highlights that the sector has grown by 60% over the past five years, with revenues increasing from 2.73 billion somonis in 2020 to 4.36 billion somonis in 2024.
Despite the positive trajectory, the market faces notable challenges, including a limited subscriber base, insufficient network capacity, and low average revenue per user (ARPU). High internet prices and limited access in rural areas—home to over 70% of the population—remain pressing issues. Tajikistan currently ranks 143rd globally for internet affordability, with an average cost of $1.65 per GB, far behind neighbors like Uzbekistan (22nd) and Kyrgyzstan (8th), according to Speedtest Global Index.
Poor affordability and access continue to deter private investment and hamper digital development. However, both the government and telecom providers are taking steps to modernize the sector. Tajikistan’s 2025–2030 initiative, dubbed the "Years of Digital Economy and Innovation," aims to accelerate digital transformation and attract investment, particularly in 5G infrastructure.
While Dushanbe was among the early adopters of 5G base stations back in 2020, full-scale commercial deployment is still pending. Operators currently offer limited 5G coverage in select locations. Nexign and TelecomDaily project that telecom revenues will grow by 8.25% in 2025, reaching 4.72 billion somonis, and will hit 5.25 billion somonis (around US$480 million) by 2027.
The report also notes that telecom companies are increasingly exploring new monetization strategies, including shifting from unlimited to personalized, package-based tariffs. Efforts are also underway to digitize customer service operations and expand service portfolios to include fintech and e-commerce solutions.
"One of the key goals is to improve service quality through digitalization," said Sergey Karpov, Commercial Director at Nexign. "For example, we helped a major operator implement a low-code data visualization platform, significantly enhancing support services."
An interactive map of the telecom market across the CIS, including detailed insights on Tajikistan, is available on the research portal.
