Will the internet in Tajikistan become more expensive again?

The slowest internet in the world is in Tajikistan and may become more expensive again if the parliament passes a new law.

The Communications Service under the Government of Tajikistan has prepared a draft law “On Electric Communications” in a new edition, which provides for an increase in the excise tax rate on services from mobile companies and internet providers.

The draft law was prepared at the direction of the head of the Executive Office of the President of Tajikistan, Ozoda Rahmon, and in coordination with the relevant ministries and agencies.

According to the authors of the new edition of the draft law, the purpose of developing the draft law is “to ensure information security, free competition and development in the sector, to prevent new threats and combat crime using electric communications, as well as to provide the state budget with revenues from the sector of electric communications.”

Asia-Plus, citing sources close to the industry, reports that after the adoption of the draft law, the excise tax rates on services from mobile companies and internet providers are planned to be increased from the current 7% to 10%.

In 2010, the Tax Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan introduced a 3% excise tax on services provided by internet providers in Tajikistan. In 2014, it was raised to 5%, and at the beginning of 2020 to 7%.

Experts believe that after the adoption of the new draft law and the increase in the excise tax rate on services from mobile companies and internet providers, internet prices in the country will rise even further.

According to the Communications Service, 4.5 million people use the internet in the country, and this number increases every year.

Residents and visitors to the country constantly complain about the low internet speed and high prices. However, the Communications Service and its head, Bek Sabur, a relative of the president, who fully controls the internet in the country, have not acknowledged the low quality and high prices of internet services.

On December 23, 2022, President Rahmon criticized the internet speed in the country and instructed the Communications Service under the government to work with mobile operators and internet providers to take necessary measures to improve the quality and reduce the cost of mobile communication and internet.

However, the Communications Service has not fulfilled this instruction from President Rahmon. Residents and social media users still complain about the low internet speed.