# Uztelecom

Uztelecom is one of the largest telecommunications service operators in Uzbekistan.

## History

In 1992, the concern of state telecommunications enterprises of Uzbekistan - "Uzbektelecom" was created.
From 1995, the process of reorganization began, including privatization and the creation of new companies. Among them are: "Tashkent Taksophone," "Syrdarya Telecom," the joint ventures "Buzton" and "Chirkom," as well as the joint-stock companies "Uzbektelecom International" and others. Regional companies were also created. A branch of "Intel Telekom" appeared as part of "Uzbektelecom".
In 2001, the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan adopted a decision to merge UzNet's subsidiary company with Uztelecom, which marked the beginning of preparations for the company's privatization.
In 2003, an engineering and technical center was established. CDMA-450 wireless radio communication began operating. The "Uzbektelecom-Mobile" branch was launched. The wireless communication system connected the Samarkand and Jizzakh regions.
In 2004, the "UzNet" branch merged with "Intel Telekom" to form the renewed "UzNet" branch. Concurrently, UzMobile expanded its CDMA-450 radio communication network in the regions. In 2004, intelligent service codes were introduced, enabling international calls using prepaid cards.
In 2005, the company modernized its VoIP gateway and installed additional nodes, expanding international communication and internet access services. In 2006, a WiMax pilot project was initiated and a videoconferencing service was introduced.
In 2007, in collaboration with the China Development Bank and Huawei Technologies, the telecommunications network was modernized. Services for video telephony, data transmission, and internet connectivity were implemented. The capacity of the international packet switching center reached 2.5 Gbit/s by 2010.
In 2011, the brands "Uzmobile" and "Uzonline" were established. The total length of fiber-optic communication lines in 2012 amounted to 263.5 million channel/km. FTTx, IP telephony, and IPTV technologies were actively developed.
On 1 December 2014, the network's international bandwidth reached 15.5 Gbit/s and a "Call Center" service number - 1084 - was introduced. In 2017, 12,100 km of fiber-optic communication lines were constructed. By 2023, the length of the fiber-optic network had reached 227 thousand km.
In 2023, the company launched a 5G network. That same year, VoWi-Fi and VoLTE technologies were implemented. He signed an agreement with Apple Inc., thanks to which Apple device users in Uzbekistan gained the ability to connect to the 5G network after the operating system was updated to iOS 16.

## Activity

It supports cooperation with universities and research institutions in various countries, participating in educational and research projects in Russia, South Korea, Japan, and India. The company's partners include Rostelecom (Russia), Kazakhtelecom (Kazakhstan), Beltelecom (Belarus), Kyrgyztelecom (Kyrgyzstan) and other communication operators. 94.25% of Uztelecom's shares belong to the State Assets Management Agency of Uzbekistan, and 5.2% are owned by individuals and legal entities.
The company includes 22 branches, including 14 regional, 8 specialized, and 3 subsidiaries.

## Criticism

Users often complain about the low internet speed, especially in the regions. Despite network modernization, access to a stable and fast connection remains a problem.
A high level of connection loss and internet service interruptions negatively impact service quality. Users are complaining about the long waiting time for technical issues to be resolved. Some of the company's branches are criticized for a formal approach and lack of initiative in improving customer interaction.
Despite the decrease in tariffs in recent years, the cost of services (especially the internet) remains relatively high for a significant portion of the Uzbek population.
Uztelecom is often criticized for monopolizing the Uzbek telecommunications market.
Despite the claims about the introduction of new technologies, the modernization of infrastructure in the regions is proceeding slowly. This leads to a digital divide between urban and rural areas. Some regions still lack access to FTTx and other modern data transfer technologies.