UPDATE ON INTERNET ACCESS IN TURKMENISTAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001116 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN COMMERCE FOR EHOUSE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EINT PGOV ECPS ECON SOCI TX SUBJECT: UPDATE ON INTERNET ACCESS IN TURKMENISTAN REF: ASHGABAT 16 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Over the first half of 2009, Internet access in Turkmenistan increased significantly, along with the number of Internet subscribers. Government-owned Turkmen Telecom remains the main provider of Internet service to the general public. Locals generally accept that the government continues to monitor all email and Internet usage and still blocks access to politically sensitive Web sites. Nevertheless, more and more Turkmen are willing to risk government surveillance in order to get online and connect with the world outside of Turkmenistan. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) In early 2009, Turkmen Telecom announced that it would issue new Internet accounts to businesses, organizations and private individuals. Turkmen Telecom somewhat liberalized the complicated subscription procedures, but government scrutiny over new accounts remains high. Turkmen Telecom rates for dial-up access remain steep for the average citizen. Initial connection cost is 120 manats ($42),with a monthly subscription fee of 12 manats ($3),and a 1.4 manat ($0.49) per hour usage fee. In 2008, the government modernized its Internet access system by increasing bandwidth and consequently the number of access hubs across the city. Russian IT companies supplied the equipment needed to increase the bandwidth and access hubs. In the past, high demand for limited bandwidth left many Turkmen, lucky enough to have an Internet account, waiting hours to get online. Although dial-up connections (which are the most common in Turkmenistan) are slow, Turkmen have noted a significant improvement in speed over the last year. ¶4. (SBU) Although Internet access and speed has improved, many Turkmen households remain on waiting lists for Internet access. It was reported that the Turkmen Telecom registration process required to receive dial-up service currently takes on average about two weeks; in the past it could take months. Turkmen Telecom has established Internet user registration or subscription help desks in the major urban centers around the country. As a result, the Internet waiting list is now "fluid" rather than frozen. The total number of Turkmen Internet subscribers grew from just 2,000 subscribers in the year 2000 to 64,800 in 2008. Some reports suggest that since the introduction of increased bandwidth in late 2008, the number of new Internet subscribers in Turkmenistan has grown by 20 persons per day. ¶5. (SBU) There are also 15 state-owned Internet cafes nationwide, but no private Internet cafes, to date. Usage fees at Internet cafes range from six manats ($2) per hour and higher, which is prohibitively expensive for the average citizen. As an alternative to dial-up, Russian cellular telephone provider MTS began providing mobile Internet service to its Turkmen customers in 2008. MTS recently reported it now has 1,000,000 mobile Internet subscribers throughout Turkmenistan. (Note: Although the cost for mobile internet access is more expensive than dial-up, Turkmen are flocking to this option. End note.) It was reported in the local press that MTS provided ASHGABAT 00001116 002 OF 002 Internet access to 20 schools in Turkmenistan as part of its contract with the GOTX. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: The question of Internet access has provided the government of Turkmenistan with an interesting dilemma. If the GOTX wants to modernize its economy and receive international recognition as a global player, then it will have to change its protectionist, highly restrictive approach to the Internet. As savvy Turkmen with cell phones have demonstrated, if the government-owned telecom provider will not provide reliable service, they will get it from foreign providers. CURRAN