The Government of Tajikistan approved the Development Strategy of the communications industry for the period until 2040, as well as the Action Plan for its implementation for 2026–2030. The corresponding resolution was signed April 30, 2026.
The document determines how the authorities intend to develop mobile and fixed-line communications, Internet infrastructure, postal services, data centers, cybersecurity and international traffic transit in the next 15 years.
According to the resolution, the implementation of the strategy should be carried out using funds provided annually in the state budget for ministries, departments and local authorities, as well as extra-budgetary funds, development partners, grants and other sources not prohibited by law.
The Ministry of Finance is instructed, when planning the expenses of the Communications Service, to provide funds for the implementation of the Strategy and its Action Plan.
Current situation
The authors of the Strategy assess the communications industry as one of the key elements of the country’s digital transformation.
As of the beginning of 2026, there are 6 licensed mobile operators and 30 Internet providers operating in Tajikistan. The total number of mobile subscribers was 7.8 million, of which 5.9 million were active users. The number of Internet users exceeded 5.2 million, and almost all of this volume is accounted for by the mobile Internet – 5.1 million subscribers.
At the same time, fixed Internet, despite its small base, is growing faster than mobile. In 2020–2025, the average annual growth rate of fixed Internet was about 28%, while mobile Internet was no more than 7%. The authors of the document consider this a sign of growing demand for stable high-speed channels, especially from households, government agencies and businesses.
However, fixed broadband remains a weak point. At the beginning of 2026, there were only 135 thousand fixed broadband subscribers in the country, and the level of fixed-line penetration in households at the end of 2025 was 9%. Almost 69% of all connections occur in Dushanbe, while the share of GBAO is less than 1%.
Weak infrastructure, expensive access and dependence on external routes
One of the key problems identified in the Strategy is the digital divide between cities and regions. In large cities, access to mobile and fixed-line communications is much better, while rural, mountainous and border areas remain insufficiently covered by modern networks.
There are also problems with international Internet traffic. As of 2025, the total capacity of external channels for importing Internet traffic was about 463 Gbit/s. The main routes pass through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, which creates dependence on a limited number of external channels.
Among the problems identified are the lack of backup routes, poor diversification of connection points, insufficient channel capacity, undeveloped IXP infrastructure and the high cost of access to international lines.
The quality of mobile Internet also remains a sensitive topic. In 2025, more than 5 thousand 721 complaints were registered about the quality of communication and Internet access. 85% of complaints related to mobile Internet, the main reasons being low speed, interruptions, insufficient 4G coverage and infrastructure overload.
The authors of the Strategy also point to poor infrastructure sharing. The share of base stations used according to this model is only 1.42%. The lack of national roaming, according to the authors, makes it difficult to ensure continuity of communication throughout the country and forces some subscribers to use SIM cards from several operators.
As of 2025, there were 7 data processing centers operating in Tajikistan: 4 in Dushanbe, one each in the Sughd and Khatlon regions, as well as in GBAO. There are no data centers in the regions of republican subordination. The average load of data centers in the country is 77%, in GBAO – 90%, which indicates the risk of overload.
Centralization is even more visible in the cloud infrastructure: out of 1,467 virtual servers, 1,443 are located in Dushanbe, 24 in the Sughd region, and there are no virtual servers in the DRS, Khatlon region and GBAO. All 21 cache servers in the country are also located in Dushanbe. This increases delays, the load on main channels and the regions’ dependence on the capital’s infrastructure.
What is planned to change
The strategy is designed for three stages: 2026–2030, 2031–2035 and 2036–2040.
The first stage should be basic: eliminating the digital divide, developing backbone and regional fiber optic networks, building new base stations, connecting schools, hospitals, government agencies and other socially significant facilities to high-speed Internet, launching the first national-level data centers and creating a system for monitoring the quality of communication services.
It is also planned to provide stable coverage to 85% of international roads and connect 70% of government institutions to high-speed Internet.
By 2035, the goals become noticeably more ambitious: fixed broadband access should cover 90% of the population, the average speed of fixed Internet is 500 Mbit/s, mobile – 70 Mbit/s, 4G coverage – 99%, 5G – 80%.
By 2040, the Strategy provides for almost complete coverage of the country with modern networks: 99% of the population should have access to fixed broadband, 4G and 5G. The average speed of fixed Internet should reach 1000 Mbit/s, mobile – 100 Mbit/s.
It is also planned to provide 100% communications coverage of international highways and connect 99% of government institutions to high-speed Internet.
5G, 6G and satellite communications
The document says that the country has already begun the phased implementation of 5G networks, including pilot projects and limited commercial deployment in Dushanbe. For further development of 5G, frequencies up to 7 GHz are being considered, including the 3.3-3.8 GHz range, as well as millimeter waves above 24 GHz.
At a later stage, the authorities intend to prepare for the introduction of 6G, develop the Internet of things, smart cities, digital solutions for healthcare, education and government, as well as integrate satellite and terrestrial communication systems.
Satellite communications in the Strategy are considered as an important tool for hard-to-reach areas.
Currently, there are about 36 small satellite stations operating in the country, 89% of them are located in GBAO. The technology is still used in a limited way and remains expensive, but in the future it can become both the main and backup communication channels for remote settlements.
Mail should also become digital
A separate block of the Strategy is devoted to postal services. The national operator has 470 post offices and 6 sorting centers. At the same time, the authors of the document note a low level of automation and digitalization, outdated infrastructure and poor integration with digital platforms.
During 2015–2025, the volume of incoming and outgoing mail correspondence decreased by almost half – from 86 thousand kg to 48.9 thousand kg. The reasons cited are the digitalization of document flow, changes in demand, a decrease in cross-border trade in postal format and the development of private courier services.
How much money is needed and where will it come from?
In the downloaded version of the document, the specific total amount of funding for the Strategy or Action Plan is not indicated. The resolution states that implementation will be financed from the state budget, extra-budgetary sources, development partners, grants and other legal sources.
The Strategy itself names the republican budget, revenues of the Communications Service, funds of operators and Internet providers, public-private partnership mechanisms, as well as international technical and financial assistance as sources.
At the same time, the document provides current financial indicators of the industry.
In 2025, the total income of the communications industry reached 5.1 billion somoni, and the total volume of capital expenditures amounted to 527.1 million somoni. Of this, 45.1% was allocated to the development and expansion of 4G networks, another 1.8% to the launch of 5G networks as part of pilot projects.
The authors of the Strategy specifically highlight the problem of the cost structure: in 2025, operating expenses accounted for 69% of industry revenue, while capital costs accounted for 14%. In other words, a significant part of the money is spent on maintaining the current operation of networks, and not on updating them.
What is important in this strategy
The main focus of the document is not just the launch of 5G or increasing Internet speed, but an attempt to rebuild the entire communications industry: from trunk lines and data centers to mail, cybersecurity, personnel and legislation.
Among the most notable ideas are the development of national IXP infrastructure, the construction of national data centers, the introduction of national roaming, infrastructure sharing, preparation for 6G, the development of satellite communications and the transformation of Tajikistan into a regional digital transit hub.
But the Strategy itself also recognizes risks: if planned funds from all sources are not allocated on time, this may affect the implementation of activities. So the key question now is not just how ambitious the 2040 targets are, but whether the industry will have enough money, investment, people and regulatory flexibility to meet those targets.
