Tajikistan’s Communications Service has attributed persistent problems with mobile internet quality to infrastructure shortages, rising demand, and power supply constraints, while outlining plans to expand 4G coverage nationwide by 2027 and fully transition to 5G by 2030.
Speaking at a press conference in Dushanbe on January 28, Communications Service head Isfandiyor Sadullo said penalties against mobile operators are unavoidable under current service conditions. The briefing focused on internet quality, network expansion, infrastructure challenges, and regulatory oversight.
According to the Communications Service, average fixed-line internet speeds increased in 2025 from 30 Mbps to 40.4 Mbps, with plans to raise speeds to 100 Mbps within the next two years. Tariffs for wired internet were reduced by up to 55%, and packages below 30 Mbps were phased out. Prices for both mobile and fixed internet services were also lowered.
Sadullo said that while fixed broadband generally meets modern standards, performance issues remain concentrated in the mobile segment.
Authorities aim to ensure full 4G coverage across Tajikistan by 2027, with corresponding instructions already issued to mobile operators. A full transition to 5G is planned by 2030 under an approved rollout plan for 2026–2030.
Under the plan, 5G base stations will be installed in 65 cities and districts. At present, 84 5G base stations are operational, most of them in Dushanbe, with additional sites in Rogun, Khorog, Bokhtar, and Khujand. Sa’dullo noted that while 5G offers significantly better performance than earlier standards, adoption remains limited due to handset compatibility.
Officials said rapid growth in data consumption has placed heavy pressure on existing networks. Over the past five years, average internet usage increased tenfold, from 3 GB to 30 GB, overloading base stations. The total number of internet users reached 5.2mn, up from 4.5mn in 2024, with mobile users accounting for the vast majority.
Power supply remains a challenge. Currently, 62% of base stations are equipped with diesel generators and 8% with solar panels. By 2026, authorities plan to increase generator coverage to 80% and solar installations to 30%. Sa’dullo stressed, however, that electricity shortages are not the main constraint, pointing instead to outdated infrastructure and insufficient modern base stations.
Tcell CEO Ozodkhon Davlatshoev added that the lack of predictable power outage schedules complicates operations, as operators need advance notice to deploy generators effectively.
Sa’dullo said a draft communications sector development strategy through 2040 is nearing completion and will soon be submitted to the government. The strategy includes targets such as universal broadband access, higher internet speeds, expanded 4G and 5G coverage along highways, and improved user satisfaction.
In 2025, the Communications Service initiated 129 administrative cases against 119 individuals and legal entities for violations in the sector, with total fines exceeding 400,000 somoni. Mobile operators accounted for most of the penalties.
The agency also confirmed it has technical capacity to restrict social media platforms but said no such measures are currently under consideration.
