Kyrgyzstan has announced a presidential decree establishing a temporary 100% state monopoly on the supply and provision of international internet traffic within the country from August 15, 2025, to August 14, 2026. The decree aims to “create conditions for further improvement of digital transformation,” though officials have not provided detailed explanations or clarified whether the measure could be extended beyond the one-year term.
The government’s move requires all telecommunications operators and internet service providers currently handling international traffic to transfer their agreements to the state-owned telecom company ElCat within two months. Additionally, shares of ISP Aknet will be fully transferred to ElCat to enhance its operational capacity.
While the official rationale focuses on improving management of digital and telecommunications infrastructure, streamlining internet traffic, and enhancing communication quality, some observers question the necessity and transparency of the decree.
Reuters highlights the broader political context, noting Kyrgyzstan’s recent ban on online pornography to “protect moral and ethical values” and increasing pressure on opposition groups and independent media since President Sadyr Japarov’s nationalist party rose to power in 2020. The government has emphasized the protection of traditional Kyrgyz values as a central agenda point.
