Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Jan. 8 / Trend H. Hasanov /
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has instructed the communications ministry to provide efficient and well-organised functioning of communication companies, Altyn Asir national TV channel said on Tuesday
This issue was raised at a working meeting where a report was presented on the implementation of the Turkmen leader's instructions.
It was noted that an 'ever-increasing volume of electronic, mail and mobile communication services' is being provided to the people, organisations and businesses.
The meeting stressed that access to high-speed broadband Internet, voice services, as well as visual communications was provided to users through the introduction of a 3G third generation mobile service.
The Turkmen leader emphasised that the state is doing everything necessary to meet the needs of the population in this field. Equipment of phone stations is being modernised, fibre optic lines are laid, satellite communication systems are operating, national cellular network is expanding and the number of Internet users is growing.
Changes are expected in Turkmenistan's communications field. The Altyn Asyr closed joint stock company will be established based on the state-owned mobile service provider Altyn Asyr (TM Cell), according to the presidential order.
The number of subscribers using the national cellular network stands at three million people. Up till now the communications ministry was a monopoly in Turkmenistan in rendering telecommunications services.
Earlier it was reported that joint ventures with a share of foreign capital can be created on the local market. In particular, negotiations were conducted with Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) of the UAE - one of the largest mobile operators in the world with more than 100 million subscribers.
The Russian MTS operator is the only foreign company in Turkmenistan providing cellular communication services.