The Head of the Communications Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Isfandiyor Sa’dullo, inspected the progress of construction works on the “Dushanbe–Khorog–Kulma” fiber-optic backbone line in Murghob District.
The major infrastructure project to construct the “Dushanbe–Khorog–Kulma” fiber-optic backbone line, with a total length of 1,010 kilometers, has entered a key stage of implementation.
The project is being implemented by the national telecommunications operator, OJSC “Tajiktelecom,” and is aimed at supporting the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of the Communications Sector of the Republic of Tajikistan through 2040. The project will make a significant contribution to strengthening the country’s digital sovereignty, improving the quality of telecommunications services, and expanding the international data transit capacity of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Particular attention is being paid to the challenging high-altitude section between Khorog and Kulma, which is 435 kilometers long. To date, construction crews have laid more than 38 kilometers of fiber-optic cable and installed 2,500 poles specially adapted to the cold climatic conditions of Murghob. On the section from the Kulma State Border Crossing Point to the Subash area, the main phase of construction has been completed. In the village of Jilondi, the necessary technical facilities and material reserves have been established.
To ensure the high reliability of the backbone line under high-altitude conditions and heavy wind loads, specialized steel fittings and reinforced structures are being used. The building of a former hydrometeorological station is also being converted into a technical support and maintenance facility.
The full launch of the international backbone line for commercial operation, together with the international interconnection point, is scheduled for the end of September 2026.
Once commissioned, this backbone will become the fifth international telecommunications border crossing of the Republic of Tajikistan. The establishment of a new cross-border interconnection point with the People’s Republic of China will enable the formation of a redundant ring within the national network, ensuring greater resilience of the digital infrastructure, reducing data transmission latency, and significantly increasing the capacity of international communication channels.
In addition, the project will create new opportunities for the socio-economic development of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. Residents of neighboring high-altitude districts and remote villages along the entire fiber-optic construction route will gain access to high-speed internet, modern digital government services, distance education, telemedicine, and digital financial services. This, in turn, will provide a strong boost to the development of local entrepreneurship and tourism.
It should be noted that construction of the project began in 2025, and the connection works under the first and second phases have been fully completed. At present, the high-speed backbone network extending to the city of Khorog is already in active operation.
