Tajikistan has become the worst country in Central Asia in terms of mobile internet affordability, according to a rating that takes into account the percentage of telecommunications expenses relative to the average salary in the country.
This conclusion can be drawn from the updated list compiled by analysts from the British service Broadband Geni, Eurasia Today reports.
In total, experts examined the situation in 179 countries, using the average cost of a tariff plan with 10 GB of data as a reference point.
Tajikistan ultimately ranked 163rd. Tajiks spend approximately $13.77 on mobile internet, which meets the research standards.
According to the project's authors, the average salary in the country is $170. Thus, Tajikistanis spend 8% of their income on internet access via smartphones.
Interestingly, Afghanistan ranks higher in the rating, albeit only by two places. With an average salary of almost $200, Afghan citizens spend $15.17 per month on telecommunications, which amounts to 7.62% of their salary.
Among the Central Asian republics of the former USSR, Uzbekistan has the best position in the ranking, at 43rd place. With average salaries of $364, the population spends only $4.36, or 1.2% of their salary, on 10 GB of mobile internet.
Kazakhstan is ranked 63rd on the list: with incomes averaging $583.6, telecommunications expenses amount to $9.79, or 1.68% of income.
Kyrgyzstan ranks 90th: with an average income of about $313, residents of the country spend $7.61 on internet access, thus allocating 2.43% of their income for this purpose.
Turkmenistan is not represented in the ranking.
Overall, according to analysts' estimates, people worldwide spend an average of 4.09% of their salary on mobile internet. The cost of a tariff plan with 10 GB of data is $24.2.
Information on regions is separately presented. In Central Asia, the following indicators are recorded: the tariff price is $8.88; the average salary is $357, and mobile internet consumes 3.35% of income.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
April 16, 2024