Since 25 December, 2019 the national cellular provider “Altyn Asyr” has been experiencing communications-related problems. According to subscribers, it is difficult to reach other subscribers and even if they manage to do so, the call is often disconnected in a few seconds.
Problems with payment for the services have also been recorded. Owing to non-functioning cash registers, the customers who needed to pay for the services, were referred from one office to another.
When refilling the balance via a cell phone, the transfer takes 5-6 hours to 24 days. Needless to say, during this time subscribers are unable to use mobile telephones under a zero balance.
Let us recall that “Altyn Asyr” became a monopolist in Turkmenistan’s market after the Russia-based MTS had been forced to curtail their operations in September 2017.
In April 2019 MTS filed a lawsuit against Turkmenistan to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) demanding $1,5 billion.
The Russian company believes that Turkmenistan violated its rights as a foreign investor stipulated in the Agreement between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation in 2009 and expropriated the investments.
A few months before MTS had curtailed its operations, the local authorities announced that the second national cellular operator “Ai nazar” would be opened in a short term perspective.
However, the new company has not been mentioned ever since.