DUSHANBE, November 3, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan intends to launch 4G network, according to the Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA) of the Ministry of Communications. 

A source at a CRA said that the 4G network is expected to be launched next year after specialists will assess the network in terms of its meeting communications standards of Tajikistan.  

4G (or 4-G) is short for fourth-generation, the successor wireless access technology to 3G.  It is not used consistently, but generally describes several different, but overlapping ideas.  The IET (Institution of Engineering and technology) official name for 4G is "3G and beyond".

According to 4G working groups, the infrastructure and the terminals will have almost all the standards from 2G to 3G implemented. The system will also serve as an open platform where the new innovations can go with it. Some of the standards which pave the way for 4G systems are WiMAx, WIBro, 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution).

To cater the quality of service and rate requirements set by the forth coming applications like multimedia messaging, mobile TV, High definition TV content, DVB and minimal service like voice and data at anytime and anywhere, the 4G working groups have defined the following as the objectives of the 4G wireless communication standard: spectrally efficient system (8 bits/s/Hz); high network capacity (at least 10 times greater than 3G);  nominal data rate at high speeds (100 Mbps at stationary conditions and 20 Mbps at 100 miles/hr); smooth handoff across heterogeneous network seamless connectivity and global roaming across multiple networks; high quality of service for next generation multimedia support (real time audio, high speed data, HDTV video content, mobile TV, etc); interoperable with the existing wireless standards; all IP system, packet switched network and in summary, the 4G system should dynamically share and utilise the network resource to meet the minimal requirements of all the 4G enabled users.

The source added that Tajikistan will be the first among the CIS states to introduce the 4G network.  “The point is that license for providing communications services in our country is much cheaper than in other CIS countries,” said the source, “Thus, in Russia, it costs US$40 million, in Uzbekistan it costs at least US$18 million, while in Tajikistan, the similar license costs 200 somonis (US$59.00).”   

According to the source, Tajikistan has created all conditions necessary for for development of cellular operators and introduction of new technologies.  Today, nine cellular operators providing cellular communications services in different standards, including GSM, AMPS, CDMA450, CDMA20001X, 3G-UMTS и 3G, operate in Tajikistan: Babilon-M; Indigo-Tajikistan; Indigo-Somoncom; beeline; M-Teco; Tajik Telecom; Telecom Inc (Skytel and TK-Mobile.