FOLLOW-UP TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH ASIA REGIONAL

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000692

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN MANUEL MICALLER AND ROBERT DEUTSCH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID ECON EFIN EINT ETRD TX
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH ASIA REGIONAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY FORUM: PROPOSED FIBER OPTIC CONFERENCE IN
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN

REF: STATE 42174


1. Per reftel request, the Embassy on April 30, 2008 conveyed to
Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs a diplomatic note
regarding USTDA's plan to organize a follow-up conference in
September 2008 in Baku, Azerbaijan to the April 2007 Central and
South Asia Regional Telecommunications Policy and Regulatory Forum
in Almaty. In its note, the Embassy also conveyed the questionnaire
to the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan. As of May 30,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not provided answers to the
questionnaire and has not indicated whether the Ministry of
Communications is interested in participating in the Baku
conference. However, the Ministry did say that it is working on the
request and will provide a response shortly. The information in the
questionnaire is not available in the public sector, so post is
unable to answer those questions. However, we are providing
responses to the second set of questions -- those that USTDA
requested embassies answer.

TURKMENISTAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM OPERATORS


2. List of all system operators (fixed-line, mobile, data, and
Internet services, public and private sector):

-- FIXED LINE: There is only one fixed line, provided by
Turkmenistan's State Telephone Network, a public-system operator.
It provides service within Turkmenistan, and international services.
Domestic calling fees are the same, regardless of the phone call's
point of origin and destination. International calling fees vary
from country to country.

-- MOBILE: Currently, there are two mobile phone networks operating
in Turkmenistan: MTS (Mobile Tele Systems) and TM Cell.

a) MTS is a Russian Joint Stock Company. Currently MTS provides
service to 80 percent of Turkmenistan's mobile phone users. MTS
plans by the end of 2008 to have one million subscribers. In April
2008, MTS began providing Internet services to private companies and
public organizations via a blackberry-type GPRS system, at a fee of
$1.00 per megabyte of transferred data.

b) TM Cell -- also known as "Altyn Asyr," is a Turkmen state-owned
company serving the remaining 20 percent of mobile phone users.
Until March 2008, TM Cell had a very small number of subscribers due
to the company's very limited technical capacity. However, in March
it started expanding its operations and is now providing service in
most districts and towns throughout Turkmenistan.

-- DATA: Post does not have any information on data system
operators.

-- INTERNET: The state-owned company, "Turkmen Telecom," is the only
public Internet service provider. It provides a dial-up Internet
connection to a very limited number of government agencies, private
businesses and independent citizens. Currently, there are eight
official Internet exchange points in the form of Internet cafes:
four in the city of Ashgabat, and one in each of the capitals of
four provinces of Turkmenistan (all provinces, except for Ahal, of
which Ashgabat is the de facto capital). The state-run Internet
cafes are open daily except for Sunday, from 09:00 to 18:00 and
charge about $2.00 per hour. As mentioned above, MTS is also
providing Internet service via GPRS, which is the first
non-governmental Internet service. Although MTS' Internet service
is currently available only to legal entities, it most likely will
be extended to private citizens in the future.

CURRAN