Uzbekistan’s telecom market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 12.7% over the next three years — more than double the projected pace across the CIS. According to new research by Nexign and TelecomDaily, modernisation of infrastructure, 5G rollout and digital service expansion will drive this growth.
Between 2020 and 2024, the value of Uzbekistan’s telecom sector doubled from UZS 10.2 trln to UZS 20.9 trln. Although growth slowed slightly in 2024 due to market saturation in basic services, the country still posted an 18.6% increase over the previous year — outpacing Kazakhstan (11%), Kyrgyzstan (13.6%) and Russia (7.8%).
The sector continues to be led by mobile and fixed broadband services. In 2024, internet penetration reached 93.3% of households. As of early 2025, mobile subscriptions stood at 36.3 mln, reflecting a 6% annual increase. With 81.1 mobile lines per 100 people, the market still has room to grow.
The country’s telecom development aligns with the government’s «Uzbekistan 2030» strategy, which aims to transform the republic into a regional IT hub. Key goals include 100% broadband and fibre-optic coverage, full mobile coverage of national highways, and 5G availability in Tashkent, Karakalpakstan and all regional centres.
State-owned operator Uzbektelecom continues to dominate the fixed internet segment with an 83% market share, making it the key player in nationwide infrastructure projects. However, the mobile segment remains competitive. Ucell has launched a standalone 5G network using Nexign’s 5GC core, marking a step forward in 5G deployment.
