In 2009, Tcell launched a special tariff plan for women in Tajikistan, to empower and enable women to stay better connected with family and friends, improve their safety, and help them obtain paid work.
While Tajikistan has experienced steady economic growth since 1997, nearly two-thirds of the population continues to live in poverty and there are limited opportunities of in-country employment. Lack of employment opportunities has led to intense workforce migration: almost half of the working population of Tajikistan is estimated to be working abroad. Considering that it is mostly men who leave the country to find jobs abroad, it can be said that Tajikistan's population is dominated by women.
The Women and Mobile report published by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women in February 2010 showed that, by extending the benefits of mobile phone ownership to more women in low and middle-income countries, a host of social and economic goals could be advanced. The report highlights that mobile phone ownership could empower and enable women to stay better connected with family and friends, improve their safety, and help them obtain paid work.
In 2009, Tcell, TeliaSonera's subsidiary in Tajikistan, became the first operator to launch a special tariff plan for women in Tajikistan, called Sanam, which means “wonderful, beautiful, a beauty, sweetheart” in ancient Persian. The main attraction of the “Sanam” tariff is a low price for outgoing calls within the tariff plan, to encourage women to unite in a single “mobile social network”.
