Turkmenistan may finally join the online world

Restrictions have reportedly been loosened in the nation of Turkmenistan, the Southernmost nation of the former Soviet Union, and private citizens are gradually -- about 20 per day -- being connected to the Internet.

As a result of a development plan put forth by President Gurbanguli Berdymukhammedov, Turkmenistan has been moving toward becoming connected. Previously, only government employees, diplomats, and employees of major international corporations were allowed access to the Internet. But after Berdymukhammedov rose to power in 2006, he put repeated emphasis upon improving the nation's information infrastructure and social standing. In 2007, the first Internet cafe opened, and several dozen followed.

However, due to the high cost of accessing the Internet from a cafe terminal (30,000-60,000 manats or $2.50-5.00 per hour), use of the cafes was decidedly low. According to the CIA, Turkmenistan's per capita gross domestic income was $9,200 a year in 2007. Several of the cafes had reportedly closed within months.

Turkmentelekom, the country's monopoly ISP, said on Thursday that it has a waiting list of about 2,000 households now awaiting connection, and is connecting new customers at a rate of about 20 per day. On April 14, however, Berdymukhammedov reportedly criticized the ISP for its low connection speed and poor quality of service.

Of course, stories regarding progress in Turkmenistan are varied. Deemed among of "The Worst of the Worst: The World's Most Repressive Societies" by nonprofit organization Freedom House, the country continues to have some of the most strictly controlled media in the world. Radio, television, and print media are all heavily censored, and most foreign newspapers and magazines are difficult for citizens to obtain.

Watchdog groups have speculated that Berdymukhammedov's push for a more connected Turkmenistan is actually a ploy to more tightly control the communication of its citizens. In March, Reporters without Borders actually called the country "an enemy of the Internet."

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