Translated with AI
MegaFon Tajikistan is completing another season of large-scale network construction and modernization in the Khatlon region. On the eve of the company's regional office's anniversary, we spoke with its director, Komron Kenjaev.
Telecom is a highly competitive industry. How do you assess the company's current position in Khatlon?
I can confidently say that we are among the leaders. We maintain and strengthen our position year after year thanks to significant investments in infrastructure. This is fundamental to the high-quality operation of our communications services. This year alone, we have launched over 40 base stations (BS), covering thirteen cities and districts of Khatlon, virtually the entire region. We will launch another 15 new BS by the end of the year. We are actively upgrading our existing equipment. Thus, in 2025, over 20 second- and third-generation base stations began operating in the 4G band. 4G data transmission channels were expanded at 30 stations. Subscribers can now enjoy more internet traffic at higher speeds, which fully meets their requirements. I would like to emphasize the following: construction and modernization this year alone affected almost one-tenth of the company's entire infrastructure in Khatlon; this is a very significant amount of work. And these results are achieved annually, which allows us to maintain our market position.
– But these works are not limited to base stations?
– Of course not. First, we need to ensure the base station's power supply. There are electricity limits, and many base stations are located in hard-to-reach places where there are simply no power lines. Therefore, to ensure stable communication, we use diesel generators and batteries. And these also require constant monitoring. Since the beginning of the year, we've replaced nearly 150 batteries. We've repaired about 20 diesel generator sets, and by January we'll complete scheduled overhauls of another 40, installing over 20 new additional generators. We're also continuing to deliver fuel to sites to ensure the network operates smoothly during the winter. I'll go into some detail to better understand the scale of this particular area of work.
Secondly, in addition to base stations, we are building fiber-optic communication lines, or FOCLs. These are essential for transmitting large volumes of traffic between cities and districts, and FOCL connections also improve connection reliability. Therefore, we are gradually converting base stations from radio relay lines to fiber-optic lines. Just to give you an idea of what backbone FOCLs are and how long they are: this year we launched two new sections: Bokhtar-Pyanj, 142 kilometers long, and Dangara-Kulyab, an additional 108 kilometers. Such projects require significant investment, but they are all about connection reliability. Previously, we leased lines in these areas and were dependent on third-party companies in the event of any failures. Now, however, we have our own backup FOCLs, which guarantees stable service even in emergency situations.
– To summarize: what does the MegaFon Tajikistan network currently look like in the Khatlon region?
We have over 1,200 base stations of various communication generations, a third of which support the 4G standard with high mobile internet speeds, and hundreds of kilometers of fiber-optic cable. This is one of the largest networks in the country. We even have mobile base stations installed on vehicles. They help provide communications for important public events, including those held far from cities, such as international sporting competitions, military exercises, and events attended by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan. For example, in 2025, we partnered with the IT forum in Bokhtar, organizing free Wi-Fi for all participants. We also provided communications and internet for the international paragliding competition in Dangara.
We also have another network—our retail outlets. Currently, there are 124 MegaFon Tajikistan stores in the region. This is one of the largest service networks, allowing us to be closer to our subscribers. We continue to develop both our retail network and our technical infrastructure to ensure that the Khatlon region remains among the best in Tajikistan in terms of connection quality and customer service.
