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DE RUEHAH #1116/01 2451248
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P 021248Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3397
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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