Tajikistan to expand Internet despite fears of negative influence.

July 15 2011 (TCA) -- The benefits of the Internet outnumber its disadvantages, and therefore the Tajik government will continue to encourage the spread of the Internet in the country, head of the Tajik President's Information and Analysis Department Saidali Siddikov has told reporters.

The number of Internet users has reached 2 million, or nearly a quarter of Tajikistan's population of 7.5 million.

"The socio-economic advantages of the Internet outweigh its disadvantages and the damage it may cause. That's why our government, like the governments of other countries, is stepping up measures to encourage the spread of the Internet," Siddikov said.

New opportunities for communications technologies are emerging for sustainable human development, and Internet access infrastructure is spreading, he said.

The majority of Tajik Internet users access the Internet via mobile phones.

"Access to the Internet is now available in nearly all corners of our country. Even at the remotest mountain village, you can access the Internet either at home or via a mobile phone," he said.

At the same time, he acknowledged that concern remained over the frivolity of some web users.

"During its 30-year history, the Internet visibly changed the world, paving the way for an unheard of level of freedom of speech. The Internet has become a symbol of freedom, but freedom and frivolity are not the same things. Freedom as the freedom of choice is restricted by law, while frivolity knows no borders and is therefore harmful," Siddikov remarked.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)