Uzbekistan is set to become the fastest-growing telecom market in the CIS over the next three years, according to a new joint study by Nexign and TelecomDaily available to Kursiv Uzbekistan. While other CIS countries are expected to grow at a rate of 4–6% annually, Uzbekistan’s telecom sector is projected to expand by an average of 12.7% per year, driven by 5G deployment, infrastructure modernization and digital service expansion.
Market Growth and Key Drivers
From 2020 to 2024, Uzbekistan’s telecom market doubled in size, reaching 20.9 trln soums. Despite a slight slowdown in 2024 due to market saturation in basic telecom services, the sector still posted an 18.6% year-on-year growth, outpacing Kazakhstan (11%), Kyrgyzstan (13.6%) and Russia (7.8%).
The main revenue sources for telecom operators remain mobile services and broadband internet. Internet penetration reached 93.3% of households in 2024 (up from 89% in 2023), while mobile subscribers hit 36.3 million, a 6% increase year-over-year. With mobile penetration at 81.1 per 100 people, the market still holds substantial growth potential.
Strategic Vision: Uzbekistan 2030
The government’s Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy aims to transform the country into a regional IT hub. Goals include 100% fiber-optic and broadband coverage, high-speed internet in all population centers and 5G coverage in Tashkent, the Republic of Karakalpakstan and regional capitals by 2030.
To achieve these targets, state-owned Uzbektelecom, which holds an 83% market share in home internet, leads most infrastructure projects. The mobile segment remains highly competitive, with operators racing to launch 5G services. Ucell, for instance, has already deployed a standalone 5G network based on Nexign’s core technology.
Innovations and New Services
Operators are expanding service portfolios with fintech and streaming solutions in B2C and cloud services and big data analytics in B2B. They are also enhancing user experience through bundled offerings, including internet, mobile, IP telephony and TV.
Uzbekistan was one of the first CIS countries to roll out 5G FWA (Fixed Wireless Access), a key solution for rural and hard-to-reach areas where fiber infrastructure is not cost-effective.
Market Outlook
The telecom market in Uzbekistan is forecast to grow by 15.3% in 2025, reaching over 24.1 trln soums.
«Uzbekistan’s telecom sector is expanding at double-digit rates, aligned with its vision to become a regional IT powerhouse,» said Sergey Karpov, CCO of Nexign. «Strong competition in mobile drives efficiency and demand for innovation, from 4G/5G monetisation to business diversification. We’re proud to support leading operators on this path.»
About Nexign
Nexign is an international provider of enterprise-grade IT solutions with 33 years of experience. The company helps large businesses achieve rapid digital transformation across industries with scalable, high-performance products.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that British Vodafon is coming in Uzbekistan.
