Kyrgyzstan Communications 2023, CIA World Factbook

total subscriptions: 300,000 (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 KTRK has nationwide coverage; also operates Ala-Too 24 news channel which broadcasts 24/7 and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels; ELTR and Channel 5 are state-owned stations 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 content up to 50% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting primarily programs from Russian channels or airing unlicensed movies and music; 3 Russian TV stations also broadcast; state-funded radio stations and about 10 significant private radio stations also exist (2019)

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.)

NOTE: The information regarding Kyrgyzstan on this page is re-published from the 2023 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Kyrgyzstan 2023 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Kyrgyzstan 2023 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.