In 2024, mobile service tariffs in Tajikistan increased once again, sparking public dissatisfaction. Many users believe that both the previous and current prices do not match the quality of services.

According to global internet pricing rankings, Tajikistan currently ranks 142nd out of 236 countries, with an average cost of US$1.65 per 1GB of data.

For comparison: in Kyrgyzstan, 1GB of data costs US$0.17 per GB (8th in the world); Uzbekistan – US$0.30 per GB (22nd place); and Kazakhstan – US$0.41 per GB (35th place)

This means internet in Tajikistan is nearly 9.5 times more expensive than in Kyrgyzstan, 5.5 times more than in Uzbekistan, and 4 times more than in Kazakhstan.

Which operators raised prices?

To investigate, Asia-Plus sent inquiries to the country's leading operators: MegaFon Tajikistan; Tcell; Babilon-Mobile; and Zet-Mobile.

Only two companies—MegaFon and Tcell—raised their tariffs last year.

MegaFon Tajikistan refused to comment on the price hikes, claiming they had already addressed the issue in previous statements. In response to Asia-Plus' inquiry, they simply provided a link to their official website's "News" section, where no clear announcements about specific price increases were found.

Tcell did not disclose specific percentage increases but revealed that their average price per GB dropped to 4.40 somoni in 2024, 30% cheaper than in 2023. This means internet itself became cheaper, but tariff plans as a whole became more expensive. The company attributed this to rising costs for electricity, rent, and fuel needed to maintain technical infrastructure.

Examples of price increases

MegaFon Tajikistan: “Biyo! Bemahdud bosh – Sotrudnik" plan (50% discount included) rose from 150 to 230 somonis; “Vklyuchaisya! Obshchaisya!" plan increased by 11 somonis. Users now pay 111 or 122 somonis instead of previous 99 or 109 somonis.

Tcell: "Salom" plan increased by 10 somonis.  New prices: 50, 70, and 130 somonis instead of previous 40, 60, and 120 somonis.

How internet prices were raised last year

The 2024 price hikes started in late January, when all mobile operators announced tariff increases from February 1 via text messages to customers.

However, within days, the Communications Service under the Government of Tajikistan officially canceled the tariff increases, citing public dissatisfaction, contradictions with government policies aimed at reducing communication service costs and  directives from national leadership

Authorities even urged citizens to ignore messages about price increases and continue using their plans at current rates. By January 25, three of the country's major operators had confirmed that they were abandoning the planned hikes.

But in April 2024, MegaFon Tajikistan issued a public statement, urging regulators to “let the market operate freely.”  The company claimed that rising prices for utilities and social services had already been approved by the Antimonopoly Service, but the tariff hikes were blocked by other government agencies.

A day after MegaFon's statement, the communications service agency again called on operators to halt price increases, stating that such moves contradict public interests and economic needs.

Government reverses its stance on price hikes

Despite this opposition, a few months later, the Communications Service changed its position and supported raising internet prices.

In July 2024, at a news conference, Communications Service officials stated that operators must raise internet and mobile tariffs due to high operating costs, revenue from telecom services contributes to the state budget and there are no speed issues with internet services in the country and prices are reasonable.

Officials justified the "affordability" of the internet not by lowering costs, but by increasing the amount of megabytes offered in tariff plans.

Despite these high costs and low speeds, the government now backs price hikes, shifting its stance from blocking to endorsing them within just a few months.