The communications service agency is not going to reduce the price for Internet to support development of online (distance) leaning in Tajikistan. 

Deputy Head of the Communications Service under the Government of Tajikistan, llhom Atoyev, told reporters in Dushanbe on July 13 that they cannot afford to reduce the price for Internet “because its high cost results from transit prices.”

“We cannot afford to reduce Internet prices until we depend on Internet transit,” said Atoyev, “The Internet cost will reduce only when we implement the Digital CASA Tajikistan Project.” 

According to him, the implementation of the Digital CASA Tajikistan Project has been suspended due to the novel coronavirus crisis.

Recall, the Digital CASA Project was presented in Tajikistan in summer 2017 and it reportedly builds on an idea of connecting Central Asia and South Asia by a single fiber optic line. 

Digital CASA Program is expected to increase access to more affordable internet services, improve government's capacity to deliver digital public services and facilitate opportunities for digitally‐enabled income generation.  The potential participants are Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

Specific components of Digital CASA Program are tailored to each country on the basis of a broad Menu of Options.

The outcomes of Digital CASA Regional Program include: increase in the number of people provided with access to the Internet; significant social benefits related to more efficient delivery of services and enhanced citizen participation, including in health, education, among others; increase in the number of e‐Services and Applications Utilizing the Shared Services Platform; development of the ICT sector and digital job opportunities through increased productivity of firms, technological innovations across industries; facilitation of cross‐border trade of knowledge, products (e.g. e‐commerce) services across the Region; and generation of indirect government revenue sources.