The current year, marking the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality and proceeding under the motto "International Year of Peace and Trust", will inscribe a new and significant chapter in the glorious annals of the Fatherland.

The policy of neutrality has enabled our country to successfully address the tasks of national economic development. This status plays a significant role in establishing broad interaction with the nations of the world in the political, economic, cultural, scientific-educational, and other spheres. Today, Turkmenistan stands as a reliable and authoritative partner in international cooperation on pressing issues.

The diversification of the economy and industry, with an emphasis on high technologies and promising sectors, to which the sphere of communications undoubtedly belongs, constitutes the realities of modern Turkmenistan and a clear orientation towards the future.

Thanks to the successful implementation of large-scale reforms initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and consistently carried out under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, in the Era of Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State, digital systems, "smart" and "green" technologies are being introduced into all sectors of the economy, and the capabilities of artificial intelligence are being utilized. A vivid testament to this is the city of Arkadag, laid down on the initiative of the Hero Arkadag, which has received a special legal status as a city of state significance on a legislative basis.

During a working trip to the city of Arkadag on February 22nd of this year, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, blessed the launch of high-speed 4G+ internet installed on its territory.

The Hero-Arkadag was also presented with a report on the features of 5G technology, which will be introduced for the first time in the city of Arkadag, its coverage area, and the importance of this technology for relevant agencies and industries in managing the operation of "smart city" and "smart home" systems, healthcare, education, industry, and agriculture through a digital network. This innovative technology is capable of ensuring the connection and management of hundreds of thousands of devices within an area of one square kilometer.

The functioning of the communication system based on 5G technology, leveraging the capabilities of the artificial satellite "TürkmenÄlem 52o E" will ensure the proper operation of the frequency range.

The "Türkmenaragatnaşyk" Agency is conducting relevant activities in preparation for the launch of this technology.

It is worth recalling that at a regular meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on June 14, 2024, the President of Turkmenistan emphasized that advanced technologies are being introduced in the country, and effective measures are being taken to transition to and develop a digital economy. In this context, the expediency of studying international experience, features, and technical characteristics of 5G technology was noted, which, compared to 4G, increases data transmission bandwidth, reliability, and connection stability tenfold. Noting that modern 5G technologies are currently widely used abroad, the Head of State instructed the relevant leaders to study its capabilities and advantages.

The legal framework governing the telecommunications sector of Turkmenistan is being systematically improved in accordance with the realities of the time and in the context of the state policy pursued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Thus, the following laws are in force in Turkmenistan: "On Communications", "On Legal Regulation of the Development of the Internet and the Provision of Internet Services in Turkmenistan", "On Information and Its Protection", "On Electronic Government", "On Cybersecurity", "On Electronic Documents, Electronic Document Management and Digital Services", "On Space Activities", "On the Radio Frequency Spectrum", "On Courier Communications", etc.

The head of state has identified ensuring universal accessibility of digital and mobile services as one of the key tasks. In this context, we note the large-scale activities of the “Türkmenaragatnaşyk” agency, which, according to the Decree of the President of Turkmenistan, is the authorized body for the development of the digital economy in the country.

In accordance with the "Program of socio-economic development of Turkmenistan and investments in 2025", approved in February of this year, the expected investment volumes for the “Türkmenaragatnaşyk” agency this year will amount to over 82 million manats, for the closed joint-stock companies “Altyn Asyr” and “Ashgabat City Telephone Network”, respectively, 37 and 3 million manats.

It is also planned to increase the number of main telephone numbers to 613 thousand units, and mobile subscribers - to more than 6 thousand 700 units.

Industry specialists are implementing large projects aimed at creating a comprehensive communication system based on advanced technologies, improving the quality and range of communication services along with access to the Internet for the population in the most remote corners of the country. In this context, the "National Program of the President of Turkmenistan for the Transformation of Social and Living Conditions of the Population of Villages, Towns, Etrap Cities and Etrap Centers for the Period up to 2028" continues in a new capacity - at the level of digitalization of regions and the remote areas, becoming a powerful catalyst for their socio-economic development.

The number of communication channels organized by high-tech fiber-optic lines is growing annually. Thus, in 2024, the construction of a fiber-optic communication line along the Serhetabat-Herat route began. This project will increase the volume of communication transit, as well as ensure the laying of fiber-optic communication through the territories of Afghanistan and Pakistan to India.

Our country is open to cooperation aimed at implementing mutually beneficial initiatives to improve the national telecommunications infrastructure. Such interaction will contribute to the realization of the enormous transit potential of Central Asia, the introduction of modern telecommunications services and the successful development of information and communication technologies.

In his speech at the first “Central Asia-European Union” Summit held in Samarkand on April 4 this year, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that transport and communications are strategic areas, the key component of which is the creation of the East-West and West-East transport and communications lines.

As the head of state emphasized, in the field of communications, we proceed from the need and possibility of laying cables along the bottom of the Caspian Sea, stating that Turkmenistan considers the construction of underwater infrastructure in the Caspian to be economically beneficial for the coastal states. At the same time, this is an important condition for ensuring energy, economic and transport stability in Eurasia based on equal consideration of interests and benefits.

In addition, cooperation with major international organizations, including specialized UN agencies, is actively developing. Within the framework of the project "Assistance in the implementation of a pilot system of interdepartmental electronic information exchange in Turkmenistan", work is underway to implement the X-Road platform, which will help speed up and improve the reliability of data exchange between government agencies.

At the regular meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on February 28 of this year, it was reported that, given the availability of favorable conditions for the transmission of high-quality and high-speed information flows in transit through Turkmenistan, the possibilities of increasing the number of connections and data transfer speeds between our country and neighboring states, as well as providing additional capacity for the communication system, have been studied. Carrying out relevant activities in this direction will further strengthen the position of the Fatherland as an important transit country between Asia and Europe.

During the meeting, the head of state approved proposals to modernize data transmission systems located in various parts of Turkmenistan and create additional data transmission stations, instructing them to carry out the necessary work.

The country is preparing projects for the "Program of Cooperation with Foreign States and International Organizations to Ensure Cybersecurity of the Digital System for 2025-2027" and the Action Plan for its implementation. These documents are designed to facilitate joint coordinated work in this area, mutually beneficial exchange of experience, advanced training of specialists, and timely resolution of tasks. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov reported this at the above-mentioned Government meeting.

As noted, ensuring information and cybersecurity of the country's digital system is defined as one of the priorities of the state policy pursued by the President of Turkmenistan. At the same time, an important role is given to building up constructive interaction with foreign states and international organizations. Activating partnership in maintaining the security of the digital system in cyberspace is one of the key tasks.

Based on this, in order to implement the initiatives of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, measures are being taken to establish and strengthen relations between Turkmenistan and technologically advanced countries of the world. In particular, it is envisaged that our country will join the adopted conventions in the field of digitalization, improve national legislation in accordance with international documents. It is also planned to organize specialized courses and seminars with authoritative specialized structures on a regular basis.

The Program and Plan provide for the conclusion of relevant agreements with foreign partners, the protection of national interests in interstate relations, the definition of ways to exchange information on cyber-attacks, the implementation in our country of internationally adopted decisions on cybersecurity and cyber diplomacy.

It is undeniable that digitalization is the key to solving the priority tasks of sustainable development today. The digital technology market is one of the fastest growing and most popular employment sectors in the world.

Thus, the country has given an effective impetus to the development of high-tech industries, in particular, the electronic industry. Consistent steps are being taken to develop such knowledge-intensive segments as the creation of software, electronic services, information portals, etc. It is noteworthy that new digital products developed by Turkmen specialists are widely used in practice, not inferior in their functional qualities and ease of use to foreign analogues.

Advanced technologies are also radically changing the service sector. As is known, in order to automate the production activities of hakimliks, industry departments, simplify registration and accounting work, as well as for the convenience of citizens, the Unified State Website of Services of Turkmenistan e.gov.tm was created. This portal is an automated information system "One Window" for the provision of government services in electronic format to the population and business.

Today, an authorized user can pay bills for the Internet, landline and mobile communications, IP television, railway or air tickets, etc. using their bank card through the official Internet portal of state services.

Here you can also apply online for passport processing, registration, employment and many other issues - from entrepreneurial activity to social aspects.

Internet banking and mobile banking services are being actively introduced, through which it is possible to make non-cash payments both on the territory of Turkmenistan and abroad, simplifying commodity-money relations and ensuring their security.

Effective work is being carried out to introduce a digital economy in Turkmenistan and fully implement the "Electronic Government" system.

Among the significant achievements, it is important to note the fact that Turkmenistan has joined the ranks of countries engaged in space exploration, having launched its first satellite "TürkmenÄlem 52°E", which allows broadcasting dozens of standard and high definition television channels. Its payload includes modern equipment designed to provide a package of multiservice communication services.

Currently, the "Türkmenaragatnaşyk" agency, in accordance with the instructions of the head of state, is working on the creation and launch of the second national satellite.

Today, a multi-structured economy is being formed in our Fatherland, industry is being diversified, new processing enterprises and entire industries based on advanced science-intensive technologies are being created, the material and technical base of the education and science spheres is being qualitatively modernized, and the number of Internet resource users is increasing.

Hence, Turkmenistan continues to confidently move forward, and a powerful impetus to its development is given by the creative initiatives initiated by Hero Arkadag and successfully implemented under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to transform the country into the largest international telecommunications center of global significance.

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