Uzbekistan’s Internet Makeover: Blazing Speeds, New Satellites, and Lingering Barriers
Uzbekistan’s internet infrastructure has shifted from slow dial-up to fiber and 4G/5G networks, with Uztelecom expanding fiber backbones and boosting international capacity to 3.2 Tbps in 2022. As of 2022, 2G networks blanket 99% of the population, 3G covers about 90%, and 4G LTE reaches roughly two-thirds of residents. In 2023, Uzbekistan began rolling out 5G with thousands of base stations, with the first phase targeting full 5G coverage in Tashkent and partial coverage in provincial centers. Uztelecom dominates fixed broadband, carrying 98% of fixed connections, while private mobile operators include Ucell, Beeline Uzbekistan, Mobiuz, and Perfectum Mobile. There were