DUSHANBE, April 2, Asia-Plus -- MLT/TT Mobile, a closed joint-stock company (CJSC) and one of Tajikistan’s largest cellular operators, is currently carrying out a large-scale work on optimizing its network across the country.  

The source at MLT said that the work on optimization of the operator’s network had already started in Dushanbe, Sughd province and districts subordinate to the center (RRPs) and by the end of April the optimization work will have started in the Khatlon province as well.  

“It will allow the company to introduce new services,” said the source, “The company is currently working on introduction of Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE).”

EDGE is a digital mobile phone technology that allows increasing transmission rate and improving data transmission reliability.  It is generally classified as a 2.75G network technology.  EDGE has been introduced into GSM networks around the world since 2003, initially in North America. 

It can be used for any packet switched applications such as an Internet connection.  High-speed data applications such as video services and other multimedia benefit from EGPRS’ (Enhanced GPRS) increased data capacity.   

According to the source, China’s Huawei is supplier of additional components for introducing this technology.  

In the meantime, according to the State Communications Regulatory Service, at present only one cellular operator in Tajikistan, limited liability company Tacom, offers the EDGE services.  The source at the State Communications Regulatory Service said that two other cellular operators – Indigo-Tajikistan and Babilon-M – also intend to introduce the EDGE technology. 

MLT/TT Mobile covers all four provinces of Tajikistan, operating in 40 cities and districts.  The company currently has 200,000th clients. 

MLT/TT Mobile is a joint venture between the Russian cellular operator MegaFon and Tajikistan’s national fixed-line operator, Tajik Telecom. MegaFon owns 75 percent of the shares and Tajik Telecom holds a 25 percent interest in MLT/TT-Mobile. 

MegaFon, an open joint stock company, was founded in May 2002 with the renaming and reorganization of the Russian cellular operator North-West GSM. 

MLT/TT Mobile was the first cellular operator in Tajikistan to offer its clients the 3G standard in 2005.