Turkmenistan's communications ministry reports 15.3% services growth; 5G reported in Awaza

Services rendered by Turkmenistan's Ministry of Communications grew by 15.3 per cent in January to September 2026, according to the State News Agency's account of the Cabinet of Ministers meeting held on 2 October. The ministry's figure, given as a rate of increase of 115.3 per cent, compares with 115.5 per cent for January to July, reported at the cabinet meeting of 1 August.

Neither account gives a value in manat, a split between mobile, fixed, internet and postal services, or subscriber numbers, and neither says whether the growth is measured at current or constant prices. The transport and communications complex as a whole grew 14.7 per cent in the nine months, the 2 October account says, with the Ministry of Railway Transport at 7.4 per cent, the Ministry of Motor Transport at 15.8 per cent and the national airline service at 21.8 per cent. Within GDP growth of 6.3 per cent, the transport and communications sector grew 10.4 per cent.

5G in Awaza

Trend reported on 15 October, citing the press service of the government, that Altyn Asyr, a Turkmen mobile operator, had launched 5G services in the Awaza National Tourist Zone ahead of high-level international events held there from 7 to 9 October. The report gives no speeds, number of sites, frequency band or equipment supplier. Backhaul has not found the government statement on the official government or news agency sites.

Altyn Asyr announced an international tender in March for 4G and 5G base stations and the modernisation of its network in several regions, Trend reported on 26 March. The report did not name the regions or give quantities, and no award has been published.

Quality of service

At the 1 August meeting, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov instructed the deputy chairman of the cabinet who reported on transport and communications to hold the issue of "improvement of the quality of telecommunication service rendered to the population in the centre of attention", the State News Agency's account says.

The next document is the cabinet's account of full-year results, which would show whether the ministry held its growth rate through December.