Turkmenistan implements the project of modernization of communication system

The Ministry of Communication of Turkmenistan started the implementation of large-scale project named “Development of telecommunication networks of Turkmenistan”, which is aimed at the improvement of quality and variety of communication services. Credit line to the amount of 273 million US dollars granted by the Islamic Development bank will be used to finance this project. 

New stage of modernization of communication system stipulates several projects. Development of mobile communication is priority direction of the project. Taking into account growing demands of the population, national operator Altyn Asyr Closed Joint Stock Venture will have to provide 100 percent coverage of the territory of the country with this service including 3G, 4G and in the near future 5G internet and other services. More than 600 units of base radio broadcasting equipment operating in 2G, 3G and 4G standards will be procured for solution of this task. More than 120 4G base station will be installed just in the capital. It will increase existing capacity of the network approximately by 50 percent. Mobile technologies of the fourth generation can also be used in the spheres of bank transactions, telemedicine, distant education, transport management, safety and public order protection. 

Special attention is paid to development of landline telephone communication and not simply to digital telephone stations but modern systems supporting new generation standards like NGN (Next Generation Network) and multiservice platforms IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) when voice, data and IPTV is able to be transmitted from one telephone outlet. 

It is planned to build around 550 telephone stations based on NGN solutions in the country, which have high economic efficiency at big volumes of traffic, law operational expenses, wide spectrum of communication, high speed data transfer and other. 

It is also planned to change outdated digital stations in the capital under the project. They will be replaced with single IMS platform with the capacity of 80,000 numbers. Subscribers of IMS network will have unified package of services for fixed and mobile device and single number for various applications. Operation of network will be provided by peripheral remote stations (shelters) designated for installation on the streets and inside the premises. 

Installation of multiservice billing platforms, computerized counting systems for communication services is planned for operators of the State Communication Corporation ‘Turkmentelecom’ and ‘Altyn Asyr’ CJSV. It will help to pay not only internet services, IPTV and telephone but also utilities bills, traffic violations, etc. New system is designed for 1 million subscribers. 

It is also planned to modernize international telephone station in Ashgabat. 

Change to Internet Protocols during broadcasting of all types of traffic, absence of the need to use two ports of the volume for voice and data with higher speed, opportunity of conference calls and video calls are the main directions of development of communication networks in the country. 

One of the projects stipulates the development of high-speed channels of data transfer – creation of wide-band networks on the following levels: Ashgabat, Ashgabat – velayat centres, velayat centres – etrap centres, etrap centres – farmers associations. 

At present, the speed of data traffic is 20 Gbps in average in Ashgabat, however, it is planned to increase it to 100 Gbps. In velayat centres, the speed will be 40 Gbps, 10 Gbps in etrap centres and up to 4 Gbps between etrap centres and farmers associations. 

The project will considerably improve the exchange of information between the organizations and to introduce new types of electronic services. It is planned to establish National Data Storage and Processing Centre , installation of server and network hardware and connection of the subscribers to Internet network under the project. 

The fifth projects is related to the expansion of FM broadcasting. Today, some rural areas do not have radio coverage. Currently, 90 units of radiobroadcasting FM equipment operate in the country for broadcasting of national radio channels. To provide 100 percent coverage of entire country, it is planned to install 217 FM radio transmitter of different capacity. 

Various forms of wireless communication will receive wide application. It is necessary to control the usage of radio communication systems for provision of coordinated work of such systems. That is why, the project stipulates the improvement of the activity of the State Service for Control of Radio Frequencies under the Ministry of Communication. 

It is planned to establish the State Automatic Management System for Monitoring and Control of Use of Radio Spectrum (ASCURS) in Ashgabat, Balkanabat, Dashoguz, Turkmenabat, Mary and Turkmenbashy. ASCURS will allow making database for precise calculation of the frequencies and electromagnetic compatibility, fixing radio frequencies and automating the processing of the complaints about radio interferences as well the fulfilment of international agreements of radio frequency spectrums, etc. 

General approaches and principles of the organization, functioning and monitoring of the processes of the operation of the systems of fixed and wireless communication, telecommunication networks, etc. will be developed during realization of these activities. The fulfilment of the plan will allow considerable increasing the quality of life of the population including the rural one, efficiency and competiveness of national economy, its full-format integration to the world market and investment attractiveness. 

Passing through pre-qualification process and healthy competition with the companies shortlisted for participation in the tender are the main requirement for entities willing to participate in these projects. The documents will be issued by consulting company before XI International Exhibition and Scientific Conference on telecommunication, telemetry and information technologies “Turkmentel 2018”, which will be held in Ashgabat on October 10 – 12, 2018.