Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Nov. 20 /Trend H. Hasanov /
Close corporation will be created on the basis of Altyn Asyr (TM Cell) cellular communication company operating under state telecommunication company Turkmentelecom, an official Turkmen source reported.
The corresponding decree was signed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, who ordered the Ministry of Communications to change the legal organizational form of the company.
According to the decree, the transformation is carried out in order to improve efficiency of the national economy enterprises and to create favorable conditions for the market economy, as well as expand the cellular system and improve its quality in accordance with modern requirements.
At the government meeting, Turkmen President drew attention to the importance of the successful implementation of all the tasks defined by the Development programme of transport and communication in Turkmenistan in 2012-2016.
"Advanced technology and latest developments have to be systematically and actively introduced in this field " the government report quoted Berdimuhamedow as saying.
Today, the number of subscribers using TM Cell mobile network exceeded three million. Established in 2004, the Altyn Asyr cellular network joined the World Association of GSM Standard Mobile Operators, where TM Cell mobile network , Turkmen national network of cellular was registered under number 438 02.
During this period, the coverage area of services has significantly expanded, it covers almost all settlements of Turkmenistan, including remote and hard-to-reach areas, and the ones located along roads and railways.
Ministry of Communications is still the monopolist in Turkmenistan on provision of communication services and telecommunications. State-owned companies, operating under the ministry, provide telephone and mobile communication, Internet and cable TV services to the population.
Earlier it was reported that joint ventures with a certain share of foreign capital can be established in the national cellular communication market. In particular, negotiations were conducted with Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) from the UAE - one of the major mobile operators in the world (more than 100 million subscribers), the company provides communication services in almost 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
At the moment, cellular services in Turkmenistan a foreign company carries only Russian operator MTS
Russian MTS operator is the only foreign company in Turkmenistan providing cellular communication services