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Telecommunications Regulatory Agency established

On August 21, 2025, Decree No. UP-142 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan ‘On Measures to Improve the Regulatory System in the Field of Telecommunications’ (the “Decree 142”) was adopted. The Decree was adopted in pursuance of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan ‘On Telecommunications’ dated December 27, 2024, No. ZRU-1015 (the “Telecommunications Law”) and is aimed at improving state management in the telecommunications sector through the creation of the Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (the “Agency”).

Decree 142 came into force on August 23, 2025.

Pursuant to Decree 142 and Articles 9 and 11 of the Telecommunications Law, the Agency has been assigned the functions of a regulatory authority in the field of telecommunications.

The Agency was established as a republican executive body and reports to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan (“Uzbekistan”).

In 2025, the Agency's activities will be financed by the Digital Technology Development Fund (the “Fund”), and from 2026 onwards by the State Budget, five per cent of the revenue from state fees for issuing licenses for the right to operate in the telecommunications sector, which is allocated to the Fund, and other sources not prohibited by law.  

It should also be noted that on August 29, 2025, in pursuance of the Decree, the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan adopted Resolution No. 550 “On Measures to Organize the Activities of the Telecommunications Regulatory Agency of Uzbekistan’ No. 550, which approves the Regulations ‘On the Telecommunications Regulatory Agency of Uzbekistan” (the “Regulation about Agency”).

The Regulation about the Agency details the Agency's functions through which it implements its tasks set out above. Below is a list of the main functions that affect a wide range of entrepreneurs and consumers and contribute to the development of competition in the telecom market of Uzbekistan:

  • Regulation of tariffs for certain types of telecommunications services, telecommunications, and internetwork connection services

  • regulates tariffs for certain types of telecommunications services, as well as internetwork connection,

  • establishes a list and requirements to the quality of universal services and regulates tariffs for them, considering the interests of users,

  • regulates tariffs on certain types of communication services, as well as on internetwork connection,

  • approves the procedure and conditions for connecting telecommunications networks, the provision of mutual services by operators and the settlement of accounts between them. ➢ Licensing and expertise

  • licenses legal entities operating in the telecommunications sector in accordance with established procedures and monitors licensees' compliance with licensing requirements and conditions,

  • accredits legal entities that conduct expert reviews of design and estimate documentation for the construction of telecommunications networks and telecommunications facilities.

  • Developing competition and creating proportionate opportunities

  • promotes the creation of a fair and equitable competitive environment for the operation of telecommunications operators and providers,

  • promotes the formation and development of a telecommunications services market based on free competition.

  • Issues relating to user rights, quality and control of telecommunications services

  • participates in the consideration of issues related to the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of users, relations between operators, providers and users,

  • monitors the quality of telecommunications services provided by operators and providers through the Uzbekistan telecommunications network monitoring system for compliance with established requirements.

  • Development and approval of procedures for using the address space of the national segment of the global Internet information network, as well as determining the domain name system

  • develops and approves the procedure for using the address space of the national segment of the global Internet information network in agreement with the Ministry of Digital Technologies Uzbekistan (the “Ministry”) and interested organizations, determines the domain name system,

  • develops the national domain zone and creates favorable conditions for its promotion,

  • carries out mandatory digital marking of telecommunications equipment,

  • determines the list of universal services and requirements for their quality and regulates tariffs for them in accordance with the procedure established by law, taking into account the interests of users.

    •  

    Access to International Networks Liberalized

    The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan also adopted Resolution No. 592 of  September 18, 2025, ‘On the phased liberalization of the telecommunications market and additional measures to create a competitive market’ (the “Resolution 592”) in pursuance of Decree No. 85 dated June 3, 2024, of the President of Uzbekistan ‘On further measures to accelerate market reforms and bring national legislation into line with World Trade Organization agreements’.

    The Resolution 592 states that from January 1, 2025, telecommunications operators with mobile and/or wired telecommunications networks operating in Uzbekistan as an experiment, will be granted the right to connect directly to international Internet networks for their own commercial needs, in full compliance with the requirements of operational and investigative activities, information and cyber security systems.

    The State Unitary Enterprise ‘Republican Centre for Telecommunications Network Management of Uzbekistan’ (the “Working Body”) under the is responsible for the direct connection of telecommunications operators to international Internet networks.  

    To join this experiment, telecommunications network operators must comply with the temporary requirements and conditions of the Appendix to Resolution 592:

  • organize centers for connection to the Internet (the “Centers”),

  • ensure that at least 50% of the population throughout Uzbekistan, including in remote and hard-to-reach areas, is covered by fiber-optic backbone networks, and have the infrastructure to provide the population with broadband telecommunications services,

  • provide the Working Body with the necessary design and other documents,

  • comply with the requirements for employees of the Centers: the head and chief engineer of the center must be citizens of Uzbekistan, the nomenclature of important positions at the Center must be agreed with the Working Body, etc.),

  • comply with the requirements for cooperation with authorized state bodies (the Ministry, State Security Service, Centre for the Development of Electronic Technologies and the State Unitary Enterprise “Centre for Cyber Security”),

  • comply with certain technical requirements for telecommunications network operators.

    • Contacts: 

    Zafar Vakhidov  

    Partner, Vakhidov & Partners      Uzbekistan / Kazakhstan  [email protected] 

    Kamila Sharipova                                                   

    Senior Associate, Vakhidov & Partners      Uzbekistan [email protected]

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