Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Jan. 27 / Trend H. Hasanov /
The Turkmen Communications Ministry will conclude the contracts with a number of foreign companies to supply equipment to expand the national system of mobile communication in Turkmenistan and to improve the quality of communications services.
The corresponding order was signed by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The contracts with Huawei Technologies Co.Ltd. (China) and Nokia Siemens Networks OY must ensure the supply of equipment and its installation for the national mobile operator "Altyn Asyr".
President Karimov said that at present Turkmenistan creates all conditions for the Internet and modern communication technologies to be available to every citizen. Great importance is attached to the intensive development of telecommunications.
Russian mobile operator MTS ceases its activity in Turkmenistan in December 2010. The number of customers exceeded 2.4 million people. "Altyn Asyr" became a monopoly. The number of subscribers until this time was about 500,000 people.
According to the presidential order, the field of mobile communication services in the country is expected to be transferred to a private company. "Altyn Asyr" is expected to be privatized. This step is motivated by the need of competition, systematical expansion of the volume and quality of the public services.
The negotiations are being held with the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) from the UAE. It is one of the largest mobile operators in the world (over 100 million subscribers). The company renders communications services in almost 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.