From: www.chrono-tm.org
http://www.chrono-tm.org/?0257043344000000000000011000000
06.03.2007
TIHR
On 16 February, first Internet-cafés were opened in Ashgabat
This is how the new president G.Berdymukhammedov implements his pre-election promise to provide Web access for the citizens of the country.
The electronic connection is provided by the state company Turkmentelekom which opened two service centers: in the building of the Central Communication Centre and former telephone exchange station next to the Ak Altyn Hotel. Modern equipment has been installed in each Internet-café: five computers with liquid crystal monitors and three Canon all-in-one printer-scanner-copy machines. What is particularly good is the high speed connection – 100 KB/sec.
Turkmentelekom is planning to launch similar centers in the administrative centers of the five velayats and then in the etrap`s centers. As is reported, Internet-cafés are already equipped but still not opened in Dashoguz and Turkmenabat.
This new service is open for the public six days per week from 9 am till 6 pm. As is seen, even Saturday was made a workday for this; however, the people are not rushing to surf the Web in a bid to receive the long-awaited information. According to the visitors of Internet-cafés, this service is good but rather expensive. Indeed, one hour of access to Internet costs 90,000 manats which is an equivalent to $4. For comparison: in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, one hour of computer time is slightly below 1 dollar (30 soms).
The high price is the major hurdle for the wide access to Internet. Yet, those who can afford to pay this sum face another obstacle which considerably restricts the access to information: some websites are blocked. Amongst the sites prohibited to the public are Gundogar.org, Watan.ru, Dogry Yol.com, Erkin.net and Chrono-tm.org. Other sites such as Centrasia.ru, Eurasia.net, etc. are also not possible to access. When entering these sites, the notice «site is not accessible» always pops up. Also, it is impossible to enter them via search machines.
However, many Internet users think that people need even such Internet-cafés with limited access to find the necessary information, communicate with family members and friends who live in other countries and read foreign press.
Other websites that discuss internet filtering around the world
A crack in the isolation of Turkmenistan: Internet cafes
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-02-16-turkmenistan_x.htm
IN TURKMENISTAN, INTERNET ACCESS COMES WITH SOLDIERS
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav030807.shtml
GLOBAL INTERNET FILTERING MAP
Our aim is to investigate, expose and analyze Internet filtering and surveillance practices in a credible and non-partisan fashion. We intend to uncover the potential pitfalls and unintended consequences of these practices, and thus help to inform better public policy and advocacy work in this area.
http://map.opennet.net/
http://opennet.net/research/regions/asia
IRREPRESSIBLE INFO
Internet repression is not just about governments. IT companies have helped build the systems that enable surveillance and censorship to take place. People are persecuted and imprisoned simply for criticising their government, calling for democracy and greater press freedom, or exposing human rights abuses, online.
http://www.irrepressible.info
INTERNET ENEMIES – Reporters Without Borders
List of 13 Internet Enemies in the world.
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=19603
INTERNET WORLD STATS
A useful resource for international market research, containing Internet statistics, broadband penetration, world population data and global trade information. This website is updated frequently.
http://www.internetworldstats.com/asia/tm.htm
