Turkmenistan, a Central Asian nation, has a population of approximately 6.3 million, most of whom are concentrated in the south-eastern part of the country, near the Amu Darya River and the Iranian border. This geographical peculiarity, coupled with vast expanses of desert terrain and low population density in the remaining regions, poses a unique challenge for infrastructure development. The country's telecommunications sector is primarily state-controlled, with Turkmentelecom being the dominant service provider. Limited competition and state censorship have resulted in slow internet speeds and high costs, which impede the advancement of technologies. With respect to energy infrastructure, Turkmenistan has substantial natural gas reserves, but renewable energy development is still at a nascent stage, lacking both regulatory framework and necessary investments. It is evident that Turkmenistan's telecommunications, renewables, and technology sectors are still in a developing state, with significant room for growth and modernisation.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 1 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
Altyn Asyr, operating under the brand TM CELL, is a state-owned mobile operator based in Turkmenistan. The company was founded in 2004 by official decree of then Turkmenistan leader, Saparmurat Niyazov. The company operates under the management of Shyhmyrat Shaharliyev, a member of Turkmenistan's ruling family. The specific shareholders of the company are not publicly disclosed. The operator is a structural unit of Turkmentelecom, which is fully owned by the Ministry of Communications in Turkmenistan.
In 2010, Altyn Asyr became the first in Turkmenistan to launch a 3G network of the UMTS...