The number of mobile phone users was about 1,68 million announced the deputy minister of transport and telecommunications Suyumbaeva Chinara during annual ICT conference. There are 4 mobile operators in Kyrgyzstan and their earnings exceeded $70 million and it is significantly growing each year. Also, there are 7 operators of fixed line communications, and the biggest and fast growing is Kyrgyz Telecom, which installed about half million lines.

The real number of mobile phone users can differ since the above mentioned number perhaps indicates the number of SIM-cards sold, but not active users. The telecom industry is growing in Kyrgyzstan with a good rate, though it could grow faster if it were not volatile due to the political nature of this industry. Some people say that it is almost impossible to obtain a license for a new mobile player in Kyrgyz market without support from authorities. As we know, during Akaev’s period there was only one GSM mobile operator, Bitel LLC, which was a real monopolist and enjoyed all benefits of monopoly.

Kyrgyzstan could have used the South Korean experience of developing ICT sector. In South Korea number of mobile phone and Internet users is very high, and for example, they use mobile phones for paying utility bills.