SOCIETY | 14:40 / 01.07.2025
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Uzbekistan's telecom sector doubles in size, heads toward 30 trillion UZS

According to projections, Uzbekistan’s telecommunications market could reach 30 trillion UZS by 2027.

Photo: RIA Novosti

Uzbekistan has emerged as the fastest-growing telecommunications market among CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries, Spot said citing an analytical report by Nexign and TelecomDaily.

Between 2020 and 2024, the volume of Uzbekistan’s telecom market doubled, reaching 20.9 trillion UZS. Although growth has slowed due to market saturation in basic services, the expansion rate still outpaces other regional economies: Uzbekistan's growth stands at 18.6%, compared to 13.6% in Kyrgyzstan, 11% in Kazakhstan, and 7.8% in Russia.

Forecasts suggest that over the next three years, Uzbekistan’s telecom sector will continue growing at an average annual rate of 12.7%, far above the 4–6% range expected for other CIS nations.

In 2024 alone, Nexign and TelecomDaily experts anticipate telecom services in Uzbekistan to grow by over 15%, reaching 24 trillion UZS. By the end of 2027, the market is projected to approach 30 trillion UZS.

The primary revenue drivers for telecom operators remain mobile and internet services. Last year, 93% of the population used broadband internet, marking a 4.3% year-on-year increase. Mobile penetration reached 81.1 per 100 people, indicating room for further growth.

Future demand for telecommunications and IT services will be driven by:

  • The digital transformation of the economy,
  • Continued development of telecom infrastructure,
  • The expansion of digital services, and
  • The growing popularity of IT solutions.

The Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy outlines ambitious goals for the sector, including:

  • Providing 100% broadband coverage to the population,
  • Ensuring mobile connectivity along all major highways, and
  • Rolling out 5G networks in Tashkent, Nukus, and all regional centers.

Experts note that Uzbektelecom, the state-owned operator, dominates the home internet segment with an 83% market share. Most infrastructure projects are implemented by the company with government backing.

Meanwhile, the mobile segment remains highly competitive, particularly in the race to deploy 5G networks. Operators are diversifying by offering:

  • Streaming and fintech services for B2C customers,
  • Cloud solutions, and
  • Big data analytics for the B2B sector.

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