In two decades, Kyrgyzstan has become a mobile communications country

Mobile communications in Kyrgyzstan have gone from being a luxury to an everyday necessity over the past two decades. According to official statistics, while in 2001 there were only 6 mobile phones per 1,000 people in the country, by 2024 this figure had reached 1,061 devices, meaning that on average there is one mobile device per capita.

The sharp increase in availability began in 2004. While growth rates were moderate at the beginning of the decade, by 2007 the number of mobile phones per 1,000 people had reached 407, which was 68 times higher than in 2001.

The peak came in 2014, when the figure reached 1,267 phones, but then a phase of stabilisation and slight decline began. In recent years, the number of mobile devices per capita has fluctuated around 1,050–1,070, indicating market saturation.

Against the backdrop of rapid growth in mobile communications, there has been a natural decline in the availability of landline telephones. While in 1994, 126 out of 1,000 people in cities had landlines, by 2024, this figure had fallen to just 24. In rural areas, the figure fell to three telephones.