Fiber optic internet to become mandatory in new residential buildings in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has reviewed proposals to implement an integrated digital public administration platform, expand the startup ecosystem, and upgrade the telecommunications business environment. Following the presentation, the head of state approved the submitted initiatives and issued instructions to elevate the quality of digital services while establishing more favorable conditions for the private sector.

According to the presidential press service, the coverage of telecommunication services across the nation’s settlements has climbed from 41% to 98% in recent years, while international internet bandwidth capacity has expanded 65-fold.

However, officials noted that the sector remains insufficiently attractive to local entrepreneurs, which has kept the penetration rate of high-speed wired internet relatively low in remote and rural areas.

To lower barriers to entry and optimize the business environment, it has been proposed to consolidate separate telecom network design and construction licenses into a single unified license. This administrative reform will slash the processing timeframe from 25 down to 10 working days.

In a key structural shift, the integration of fiber optic communication infrastructure will become a mandatory requirement during the planning, design, and construction phases of all new multi-family residential buildings. Under this directive, high-speed internet connectivity must be factored into the architectural design and deployed during the active construction phase.

Furthermore, youth looking to launch their own businesses within the telecommunications sector will gain access to preferential financing via the "Kelajak Tadbirkori" (Entrepreneur of the Future) program. The framework offers loans of up to 530 million soums for a seven-year term at an annual interest rate of 15%, which includes a two-year grace period.

The package of initiatives also includes the introduction of discounted tariff plans specifically tailored for telecom entrepreneurs operating in remote, mountainous, or hard-to-reach areas of the country.

These regulatory and financial measures are aimed at driving the nationwide deployment of modern telecommunications infrastructure and narrowing the digital divide by extending access to advanced digital services.