Tajikistan’s capital welcomes 5G technology with Tcell

New technologies drive development across sectors but in order to figure out whether or not they are efficient and credible, a process is implemented to put wireless technology or innovative products on trial before launching them officially.

Tcell, a Tajik operator, activated its first 5G base stations in the city of Dushanbe, after receiving a license for 3500MHz spectrum in June of last year.

“The country’s leading innovative operator, Tcell, presents the most high-speed network of new generation – 5G in Dushanbe,” according to its website.

In addition, local news outlet Asia-Plus reported that Tcell has achieved download speeds of nearly 1Gbps, which is ten times faster than the top speed of its 4G network.

Although Tcell is not the first operator to launch commercial 5G services in Tajikistan, it was investing in fibre infrastructure to support future 5G growth.

As such, the operator is offering customers the chance to win 5G devices with data allowances via its website despite not confirming commercial 5G tariffs. “The contest period is from August 7 to September 7 and in honor of 5G launch,” the TCell website states. “Tcell gives gifts! To win a 5G smartphone and 5 gigabytes of 5G Internet access, go to Tcell official pages on Facebook and Instagram and participate in the contest!”1

The operator’s CEO Ozodkhon Davlatshoev said: “We will create free test centres in the city so that people can test the network. There are already applications from our corporate clients who would like to use 5G right away. There are still restrictions on the consumer side … The technology is new, so the devices are expensive…full commercialisation of the project will take at least three to five years.”