DUSHANBE, January 4, Asia-Plus Tajikistan is going to raise the rate of fixed-line telephone communication.

Yesterday evening, Deputy Tajik Minister of Communications, Ibrohim Usmonov, told Asia-Plus that as of February 1, the rate of fixed-line telephone communications would increase four times and be 0.004 Somonis per minute, compared to 0.001 Somonis last year.  As it had been reported earlier, Tajik Minister of Communications, Said Zuvaydov, speaking to journalists in Dushanbe on October 17 noted that the increase in the rate of the fixed telephone communication was connected with increasing technical expenses in this area and the present payments of the fixed-line telephone communication do not cover these expenses.  The other reason for increasing the fixed-line telephone communication rate is the necessity of paying off the loan provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), according to Mr. Zuvaydov.

            In the meantime, the source in the Tajik Anti-Monopoly Committee today morning told Asia-Plus that taking into account low solvency of the population and other calculations it was decided to raise the rate of fixed-line telephone communication from 0.001 Somonis to 0.002 Somonis per minute.  The subscription fee will remain the same – 1.30 Somonis per month.