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Bishkek, March 20, 2006 Despite the fact that about 90% of Kyrgyzstan was celebrating Nooruz (Islamitic New Year/Spring feast) Milieukontakt Bishkek Office established successfully one-way satellite connection. This type of connection will solve the connectivity problems, faced by NGO's in rural areas. Now these NGO's can have full highspeed internet connections for reasonable prices without being dependent on DSL availibility. Two-way satellite is licenced by Kyrgyz Telecom who monopolizes the market. Milieukontakt intents to support Regional Access Points (RAP) to provide internet access for the environmental movement. The setup was coordinated by Riny Heijdendael from Milieukontakt, together with local experts in satellite communication technology, lead by Sergey Volodchenko Friday, march 24, local specialists from all regions in Kyrgyzstan will gather in Bishkek for a training in the setup and deployment of this kind of infrastructure. The setup has been performed with the cooperation of : Yamal, Raduga, Elkat, Saimanet, Technisat, Twinhan, Eurasiasat. Internet access is crucial for the delivery and exchange of information about environmental issues. One of the internet centres that will use this kind of connection will be situated in Mayluu Suu. At this location the Worldbank finances the 7 M USD Worldbank on rehabiliation of radioactive waste, and Environmental NGOs intend to actively monitor this project. Internet access is a key requirement in this process. (From http://www.milieukontakt.nl/?show=news&country_id=21)

"TASHKENT. March 17 (Uzreport) - Uzbektelecom Mobile, wireless communication arm of Uzbektelecom, will continue expansion to the regions, the web site of Uzbektelecom said. The company will expand its network in Samarkand, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, Ferghana, Namangan and Andijan regions first. Uzbektelecom Mobile introduced wireless communication network in Karakalpaktsan, Bukhar and Navoi regions in 2005. The company’s network also covers Jizzakh, Samarkand and Kashkadarya regions. The network allows access to telephone, Internet and other services. Uzbektelecom Mobile's target is to create national network of wireless communication based on CDMA-450 standard. Bakhtiyor Abdurasulov, director of Uzbektelecom Mobile, said the company is holding negotiations with suppliers on purchase of communication equipment of CDMA-450 standard to expand network. He said in near future, the company is planning to construct national wireless communication network in Uzbekistan based on CDMA-450 standard." From BISNIS Commercial News Update, March 2006

"TASHKENT. March 17 (Uzreport) - Uzdunrobota, the largest Uzbek mobile operator, increased number of subscribers from 600,000 in January to 620,000 in February. Mobile TeleSystems OJSC, the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS, said in its release that the growth of subscribers in Uzbekistan made up 3.8%. Mobile TeleSystems is the largest shareholder in Uzdunrobota and owns about 74% stake in the Uzbek company." From BISNIS Commercial News Update, March 2006