The initial proposal for the SIM price announced by law enforcement authorities was 1,000 somoni (TJS) but the sides agreed on 250 somoni.  Meanwhile, local experts consider that “by high prices we force our taxpayer to become taxpayers of other countries.”

Recall, the cost of a new SIM card in Tajikistan will rise to 250 somoni from September 1, 2018.

The new tariff has been set for all four cellular companies active in Tajikistan: Babilon-Mobile; Tcell; TT-Mobile (Megafon-Tajikistan); and Tacom (Beeline TM), Nazar Odinazoda, the first deputy head of the Antimonopoly Agency.  

According to him, the new tariff is set in pursuance of a protocol of joint meeting of the four mentioned cellular operators that took place on August 8, 2018 and government’s regulation of April 30, 2018 on the procedure and requirements of connection to the telecommunications networks. 

“In accordance with the approved tariff, the cost of a SIM card is 215 somoni and 35 somoni are put on subscriber’s balance,” Odinazoda noted.

Supplementary explanation to the order notes that no payment is collected if you lose your SIM card or it becomes disabled. 

The antimonopoly official has failed to explain why a SIM card costs 250 somoni.  He just said that The initial proposal for the SIM price announced by the Interior Ministry was 1,000 somoni.

Odinazoda noted that a fee is introduced for SIM cards for security reasons.

Meanwhile, representatives of cellular operators have noted on the basis of anonymity that the cost price for a SIM card imported into Tajikistan is 1.80 somoni.  

According to them, 250 somoni is the payment for activation of a SIM card.  They have confirmed that 35 somoni will be put on subscriber’s balance and the remaining 215 somoni will go to the company.

They have also confirmed that the initial proposal for the SIM card price announced by the Interior Ministry was 1,000 somoni.  Mobile phone operators themselves have reportedly proposed to set the price for a SIM card at 100 somoni.  “Finally, the sides have agreed on 250 somoni,” saud representatives of the mobile phone operators.     

Meanwhile, local experts consider that “by high prices we force our taxpayer to become taxpayers of other countries.”  Because of high prices and low quality services, residents of Tajik border areas prefer to purchase SIM-cards of cellular companies of neighboring, who offer more effective services at lower prices, say the experts.  

Currently, Tajik SIM cards for mobile phone cost practically nothing as subscribers acquire them from cellular companies together with package of services.

According to the communications service agency, the interior ministry has proposed to introduce fee for SIM cards for security reasons.  The interior ministry has reportedly proposed to introduce fee for SIM cards in order to enhance responsibility of subscribers for possession of mobile phone number.

6.1 million SIM cards were reportedly reregistered in Tajikistan last year.  On average, one cellular company sells up to 300,000 SIM cards per year. 

Up to 2016 it was estimated that 70% of active SIM cards had been sold in Tajikistan without producing proper identification.  Authorities are worried that unregistered SIM cards are making their way into the hands of terrorists.  A campaign to confiscate ‘illegally-sold’ SIM cards was conducted in 2016 and the ban of illegally sold SIM cards is now much stricter enforced.

The government started a second registration or re-registration of all SIM cards in 2016.  From November SIM card owners must bring their passport or other official ID documentation and their SIM to one of the cellco’s service centers to register their identity in compliance with the order.  All new SIM cards are now legally only given out at the provider stores.  This applies to visitors and tourists as well.

Control over the internet tightened in 2016 when laws for blocking of internet and telephone services during so-called 'counterterrorism operations' were introduced.  Tajikistan adopted a law prohibiting the use of unidentified SIM cards.

Since 2017, Tajikistan citizens are only allowed to buy up to two SIM cards from one operator.  Any additional SIMs per person will be blocked.  Parents buying SIMs for their children need to present a birth certificate.  In summer 2017 around 20% of all SIM cards in Tajikistan were disconnected, after the users failed to register their personal details.