Central Asia Regional Fiber Optics

Network (CARFON)

Rajendra Singh

World Bank

June 17, 2015

UNESCAP Conference, Dushanbe

Tajikistan- At a Glance

» 120% population coverage with mobile phone

» 20% of mobile user base has broadband connectivity

» 4G Services launched in Tajikistan in 2014

In spite of that …

» Low private sector investment

» Affordability of broadband services is an issue

» Per Capita international bandwidth is very low

Source: TeleGeography

Private investment per capita in telecommunications

Source: TeleGeography

International bandwidth per capita (bits per second)

Source: TeleGeography

Affordability of wireline broadband subscriptions

Note: Affordability is defined as annual broadband subscription/ GDP per capita

Scope for further improvement..

» There is scope for improving regional telecom

connectivity between CA, SA and China

» Strategic location of TJ- Potential to be regional

hub for data traffic

Regional Data Center Hub

Synergy…

» Regional Telecom Connectivity should be

improved by:

– Developing synergy between Transport,

Energy and Telecom Sectors so as to reduce

the cost of connectivity by efficient utilisation

of resources

Working Together……

» World Bank Group intends to work with GoTJ and

other stakeholders to achieve the following:

– Improving Regional Telecom Connectivity so

as to make TJ as data traffic hub

– Creating enabling environment incl

institutional reforms

– Efficient public service delivery

– Open Data innovation

This will Lead to…

» Unlocking the potential of service sector

» Reducing the cost of doing business

» Job creation

» Reducing urban-rural divide in access to

information

» Benefits of WTO membership

Thank you!