Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Dec. 24 / Trend H.Hasanov /
Turkmen President Gurbangulu Berdimuhammedov instructed to make sure that the communication system "smoothly and consistently "worked during the celebration of New Year in the country, the national television channel Altin Asir reported.
More than two million subscribers of the Russian mobile operator MTS are completely switched off from telecommunications services and Internet in Turkmenistan from Dec.21.
On Tuesday, the company informed that from Dec. 21 "provision of telecommunications services and Internet may be suspended for about one month". A reference was filed to obtain a notification from the Turkmen Ministry of Communications on suspending the telecom company's license from Dec. 21 without explanation. MTS filed an application to the International Court of Arbitration in Geneva.
The Turkmen Foreign Ministry regarded the action taken by local authorities as "absolutely legitimate and legally sound."
The ministry said Turkmenistan has all the necessary technological, human and institutional capacity, modern equipment and adequate infrastructure to ensure normal operation of cellular communication.
After the suspension of MTS Turkmenistan's activity, the state-owned enterprises Turkmentelekom become monopoly in the local market. The number of the company's subscribers is about 500.000 people.
"The national operators offer their customers a full range of high-quality services and fully satisfying the demands and needs of the people," the statement reads.
At the last governmental meeting, Berdimuhammedov noted that the introduction of high-technology systems into the communications sphere are one of the key factors for socio-economic and scientific progress of the country, as well as for the successful international cooperation.