Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT915
2008-07-18 13:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: MINISTER OF COMMUNCIATIONS WELCOMES
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000915
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECPS EIND AJ TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MINISTER OF COMMUNCIATIONS WELCOMES
POSSIBLE COOPERATION WITH USTDA
REF: ASHGABAT 901
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000915
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECPS EIND AJ TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MINISTER OF COMMUNCIATIONS WELCOMES
POSSIBLE COOPERATION WITH USTDA
REF: ASHGABAT 901
1. (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public
Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a July 17 meeting with the U.S.
Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Regional Director for
Europe and Eurasia, Dan Stein, Minister of Communications
Hojagurbanov acknowledged Turkmenistan's need to strengthen
its communications and information technology sectors. To
that end, it is embarking on a crash course of
capacity-building projects with international financial
institutions. Turkmenistan is seeking to de-monopolize its
cellular phone market and is working on laying additional
fiber optic lines. Hojagurbanov welcomed the possibility of
a USTDA program. Stein will provide proposals in about two
weeks, possibly including projects in Emergency Management
and Communications and e-Government. Both sides would
benefit if Minister Hojagurbanov would also participate in a
study tour. END SUMMARY.
ACTIVELY TRYING TO DIVERSIFY THE CELL PHONE MARKET
3. (SBU) Stein met with Hojagurbanov and Chairman of Turkmen
Telecom Annadovlet Muhammedov (who serves concurrently as
Deputy Minister of Communications) on July 17. Hojagurbanov
said that there are almost one million cell phone subscribers
in Turkmenistan, with projected service jumping to 1.5
million subscribers in the next year. The minister said that
Turkmenistan is trying to attract other cellular service
providers, in addition to domestic company Altyn Asyr and
Russian firm MTS which are currently servicing Turkmenistan's
market. To that end, the government is reviewing proposals
from Russian and European firms. Hojagurbanov said that MTS
will sponsor the university education of 20 students in St.
Petersburg.
WE ARE A LITTLE BEHIND, BUT ARE WORKING HARD TO CATCH UP
4. (SBU) With President Berdimuhamedov's support, the
Ministry is purchasing Wi-Max, 3G, and other state-of-the-art
Internet technology from companies such as Cisco Systems.
The Ministry also works with Siemens, Huawei, and Eurasia
Limited, which provide training in Turkmenistan and have
"good relations" with the Ministry. Hojagurbanov
acknowledged that "We are a little behind, but we are working
hard to catch up." He also said, "We cannot stay behind the
rest of the world -- we have to catch up."
FIBER OPTIC LINES BUILT WITH FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND
INDEPENDENTLY
4. (SBU) Hojagurbanov said that the Ministry is working with
the Islamic Development Bank to build an
Ashgabat-Balkanabat-Turkmenbashy fiber optic line. The
Chinese EXIM Bank supplied credit for other fiber optic lines
and development of the cellular phone system. Turkmenistan
built the Ashgabat-Dashoguz line without outside assistance.
The Ministry will extend a fiber optic line which is in the
process of being laid from Turkmenabat to Imamnazar to
Afghanistan. The Minister said that Turkmenistan and the
Government of Azerbaijan are also working together to review
the costs and benefits of laying a trans-Caspian fiber optic
line.
READY TO CONSIDER ALL PROPOSALS
5. (SBU) Minister Hojagurbanov said that Turkmenistan needs
both practical experience and theoretical instruction, in
ASHGABAT 00000915 002 OF 002
areas as diverse as tariff issues, and training operators,
engineers, and management. He said that he was aware that
the telecommunications sector in the United States is very
progressive, and welcomed any program proposals that Stein
might offer, especially grants and study tours for
specialists.
NEXT STEPS
6. (SBU) Stein said that USTDA would provide concrete
proposals in about two weeks to the Ministry. Information
technology-oriented study tours to the United States include
visits to Washington, DC and Silicon Valley. Before the
group would depart, USTDA would send a specialist to help put
together a presentation on Turkmenistan's technology sector.
Stein suggested that Turkmenistan might also be interested in
a project on Emergency Management and Communications, which
would cover government response and emergency communications
technology used during natural disasters, terrorist acts, and
other unexpected actions. Stein also discussed e-government
applications for internal government communications or for
use in delivery of services to citizens.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: The success of USTDA's hydrocarbon sector
training program has garnered some strong support for the
agency within Turkmenistan's government. That fact, combined
with Hojagurbanov's recognition that he is starting from a
low bar in improving Turkmenistan's IT sector makes it likely
that he will follow up on any USTDA proposals. Both the
United States and Turkmenistan would likely benefit from his
participation in one of these study tours, as well. END
COMMENT.
CURRAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECPS EIND AJ TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MINISTER OF COMMUNCIATIONS WELCOMES
POSSIBLE COOPERATION WITH USTDA
REF: ASHGABAT 901
1. (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public
Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a July 17 meeting with the U.S.
Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Regional Director for
Europe and Eurasia, Dan Stein, Minister of Communications
Hojagurbanov acknowledged Turkmenistan's need to strengthen
its communications and information technology sectors. To
that end, it is embarking on a crash course of
capacity-building projects with international financial
institutions. Turkmenistan is seeking to de-monopolize its
cellular phone market and is working on laying additional
fiber optic lines. Hojagurbanov welcomed the possibility of
a USTDA program. Stein will provide proposals in about two
weeks, possibly including projects in Emergency Management
and Communications and e-Government. Both sides would
benefit if Minister Hojagurbanov would also participate in a
study tour. END SUMMARY.
ACTIVELY TRYING TO DIVERSIFY THE CELL PHONE MARKET
3. (SBU) Stein met with Hojagurbanov and Chairman of Turkmen
Telecom Annadovlet Muhammedov (who serves concurrently as
Deputy Minister of Communications) on July 17. Hojagurbanov
said that there are almost one million cell phone subscribers
in Turkmenistan, with projected service jumping to 1.5
million subscribers in the next year. The minister said that
Turkmenistan is trying to attract other cellular service
providers, in addition to domestic company Altyn Asyr and
Russian firm MTS which are currently servicing Turkmenistan's
market. To that end, the government is reviewing proposals
from Russian and European firms. Hojagurbanov said that MTS
will sponsor the university education of 20 students in St.
Petersburg.
WE ARE A LITTLE BEHIND, BUT ARE WORKING HARD TO CATCH UP
4. (SBU) With President Berdimuhamedov's support, the
Ministry is purchasing Wi-Max, 3G, and other state-of-the-art
Internet technology from companies such as Cisco Systems.
The Ministry also works with Siemens, Huawei, and Eurasia
Limited, which provide training in Turkmenistan and have
"good relations" with the Ministry. Hojagurbanov
acknowledged that "We are a little behind, but we are working
hard to catch up." He also said, "We cannot stay behind the
rest of the world -- we have to catch up."
FIBER OPTIC LINES BUILT WITH FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND
INDEPENDENTLY
4. (SBU) Hojagurbanov said that the Ministry is working with
the Islamic Development Bank to build an
Ashgabat-Balkanabat-Turkmenbashy fiber optic line. The
Chinese EXIM Bank supplied credit for other fiber optic lines
and development of the cellular phone system. Turkmenistan
built the Ashgabat-Dashoguz line without outside assistance.
The Ministry will extend a fiber optic line which is in the
process of being laid from Turkmenabat to Imamnazar to
Afghanistan. The Minister said that Turkmenistan and the
Government of Azerbaijan are also working together to review
the costs and benefits of laying a trans-Caspian fiber optic
line.
READY TO CONSIDER ALL PROPOSALS
5. (SBU) Minister Hojagurbanov said that Turkmenistan needs
both practical experience and theoretical instruction, in
ASHGABAT 00000915 002 OF 002
areas as diverse as tariff issues, and training operators,
engineers, and management. He said that he was aware that
the telecommunications sector in the United States is very
progressive, and welcomed any program proposals that Stein
might offer, especially grants and study tours for
specialists.
NEXT STEPS
6. (SBU) Stein said that USTDA would provide concrete
proposals in about two weeks to the Ministry. Information
technology-oriented study tours to the United States include
visits to Washington, DC and Silicon Valley. Before the
group would depart, USTDA would send a specialist to help put
together a presentation on Turkmenistan's technology sector.
Stein suggested that Turkmenistan might also be interested in
a project on Emergency Management and Communications, which
would cover government response and emergency communications
technology used during natural disasters, terrorist acts, and
other unexpected actions. Stein also discussed e-government
applications for internal government communications or for
use in delivery of services to citizens.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: The success of USTDA's hydrocarbon sector
training program has garnered some strong support for the
agency within Turkmenistan's government. That fact, combined
with Hojagurbanov's recognition that he is starting from a
low bar in improving Turkmenistan's IT sector makes it likely
that he will follow up on any USTDA proposals. Both the
United States and Turkmenistan would likely benefit from his
participation in one of these study tours, as well. END
COMMENT.
CURRAN