Country Readiness Assessment Report – Kyrgyzstan . Table 6 Stage Stage 1 Stage 2 Telecommunications regulation ICT trade policy Stage 3 Plans for the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector are in place and are being implemented. Progress is being made in achieving universal access, but there are many hurdles in implementation. Services such as data, paging and mobile telephony are available from competing private providers. Alternative carriers compete for private network services, leased lines and other telecommunications services for businesses. Incumbent provider networks are being opened to competition through interconnection and/or unbundling obligations. Trade barriers for ICT equipment have been reduced, but are still relatively high. There has been some opening in service sectors related to electronic commerce and ICT networks. Foreign direct investment is allowed in network sectors under certain conditions. 50