Uzbekistan Positions Itself as Eurasia’s Digital Gateway at GSMA M360
Tashkent has opened its doors to the GSMA M360 Eurasia 2025 summit, uniting leaders from telecom, tech, policy, and finance. Held on May 21, the event marks a major milestone for Uzbekistan as it positions itself as a digital hub for the region.
Organised in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Technologies and hosted by Beeline Uzbekistan, the summit gathers global stakeholders to address key issues shaping the future of mobile connectivity and innovation in Eurasia.
Kursiv Uzbekistan attended the opening day and presents the key highlights.
Regional Priorities: Bridging Gaps and Driving Growth
The summit launched with a focus on accelerating digital inclusion and innovation across Eurasia. While mobile technologies already serve 80% of the region’s population, GSMA estimates that 80 mln people remain offline despite having access to network coverage.
Vivek Badrinath, GSMA’s Director General, emphasised that addressing this usage gap offers significant economic potential.
«Bridging the usage gap in Europe and Central Asia could add $415bn to GDP by 2030. This is not just theory — mobile internet enables people to reach their full potential, and when people grow, economies grow,» he said.
In 2024, mobile technologies and services generated $220 bn in Eurasia’s GDP. That figure is expected to rise to $270 bn by the end of the decade, driven by continued investment in 4G, 5G, and AI-powered applications.
Uzbekistan’s Transformation Strategy
Uzbekistan’s rapid digital transformation featured prominently in the summit’s opening session. Over the past several years, the government has prioritised infrastructure, education, and investment incentives to create a more competitive IT environment.
«In 2017, internet was a luxury in Uzbekistan. Now it is available in every school and hospital. We’ve gone from fewer than 10 foreign-capital tech companies to over 30 registering every month,» said Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies.
He noted that IT services exports are projected to exceed $1 bn this year. By 2030, the government targets $5 bn in annual digital services exports, supported by tax incentives, discounted services for tech firms, and digital literacy programmes.
5G Expansion and AI Integration
Uzbekistan is one of four countries in the region with commercial 5G services. GSMA forecasts that by 2030, 5G will account for over 40% of mobile connections in Eurasia. Major telecom operators are scaling infrastructure to meet rising demand, while also testing AI-driven solutions for both enterprise and consumer services.
GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative is also gaining traction. The project allows mobile operators to expose their networks for new services, enabling a range of applications — from fraud prevention to location-based marketing.
«Our networks are not just using AI — they are enabling it. As adoption grows, the capabilities built into 5G will become essential,» Badrinath said, highlighting the sector’s dual role as infrastructure provider and innovation platform.
In Central Asia, companies are beginning to develop local-language large language models (LLMs) and enterprise-focused AI tools to support real-time analytics and automation.
A Framework for Trust and Investment
Policy reform and investor confidence emerged as critical enablers of growth. GSMA welcomed Uzbekistan’s recent decision to remove excise taxes on mobile services and reduce import duties on telecom equipment.
These steps are expected to generate 3.3 mln additional connections and boost national GDP by 1.3% by 2029.
«Without trust between governments, companies, and users, digital economies cannot thrive. Enabling regulation, long-term investment, and predictable tax frameworks are essential,» Badrinath said.
Over $31 bn in capital expenditure will be needed across Eurasia to support 5G rollout, AI deployment, and continued digital growth. Uzbekistan, having created one of the most open digital markets in the region, stands to benefit from increased private-sector participation.
The summit continues tomorrow, with panels on mobile investment, eco-efficient infrastructure, digital security, and gender inclusion in technology. With participation from Google, Mastercard, Azercell, VEON, and Beeline, M360 Eurasia 2025 positions Tashkent at the centre of the regional digital transformation agenda.
