Uzbekistan Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

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Last updated: 3 Mar 2025 Update History

Report Status: Current

Report Pages: 107

Uzbekistan’s revised telecoms law aims to address new market developments

Uzbekistan gained independence from the former Soviet Union in September 1991, though despite the endeavours of governments since then to adopt the principles of operating as a market economy, many elements of the old centrally planned economic model remain. This initially discouraged interest from foreign companies and investors to build out the necessary underlying infrastructure, which for many years post-independence was rudimentary. In turn, the lack of investment constrained the rate of growth in the sector. A shift occurred in 2006 when Telia Company, VimpelCom (since rebranded as VEON), and MTS entered the market. Their experience was fractured, with Telia Company selling out and MTS having its operating license revoked.

Nevertheless, during the last few years there has been an upswing in sector’s prospects. In particular, fibre networks have been rolled out beyond the main urban centres, satellite broadband services from Starlink have been licenced and are anticipated in 2025 or 2026, and the mobile market has seen strong growth. The mobile market enjoys effective competition, though the MVNO segment remains underdeveloped.

The fixed-line market is dominated by the incumbent state-owned provider Uztelecom, which has a 98% share of connections. Teledensity increased sharply in 2019 and again in 2023, and sits at around 17%. Further growth is anticipated in coming years as fixed infrastructure continues to be build out by Uztelecom, though the preference for the mobile platform for voice and data services will temper the rate of growth. In addition, as Uztelecom focusses on expanding its fibre footprint across the country, customers are adopting VoIP services as part of their fibre packages, and so the PSTN will gradually fade. The expanding fibre infrastructure is helping boost the fixed broadband segment (albeit coming off a very low base).

Key Developments:

  • Beeline to upgrade more than 220 base stations across the country by the end of 2025.
  • Perfectum aims to partner with Vodafone for its 5G SA launch, supported by Nokia as sole vendor.
  • SpaceX’s Starlink receives a licence to operate in Uzbekistan though service launch is delayed to 2026.
  • New Telecommunications Law comes into effect.
  • Government abolishes 10% tax on mobile telecom services.
  • Report update includes the regulator's market data to December 2024, telcos' financial and operating data updates to September 2024, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Uztelecom, UCell, Beeline Uzbekistan, Uzmobile, Mobiuz, East Telecom, Uzbekspace

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