Kyrgyzstan Communications - 2024

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 299,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 8.5 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: the country’s telecom sector (specifically the mobile segment) has been able to prosper; Kyrgyzstan has opened up its telecom market to competition; the mobile market has achieved high levels of penetration (140% in 2021) along with a fairly competitive operating environment with four major players; mobile broadband has come along strongly, reaching over 125% penetration in 2019 before falling back slightly during the COVID-19 crisis; slow-to-moderate growth is expected for both segments in coming years, supported by the anticipated rollout of 5G services which began testing in 2022 with a pilot service to follow some time in 2023 (2022)

domestic: fixed-line subscriptions 5 per 100; mobile-cellular subscribership up to over 130 per 100 persons (2021)

international: country code - 996; connections with other CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, 9 members post-Soviet Republics in EU) countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intersputnik, 1 Intelsat) (2019)

Broadcast media

state-funded public TV broadcaster NTRK has nationwide coverage; also operates Ala-Too 24 news channel which broadcasts 24/7 and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels; ELTR is a state-owned TV station with national reach; the switchover to digital TV in 2017 resulted in private TV station growth; approximately 20 stations are struggling to increase their own Kyrgyz-language content up to 60% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting primarily programs from Russian channels or airing unlicensed movies and music; several Russian TV stations also broadcast; state-funded radio stations and about 10 significant private radio stations also exist (2023)

Internet country code

.kg

Internet users

total: 5.07 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 78% (2021 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 289,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.)