DIGITAL ECONOMY OF UZBEKISTAN

Due to the low investment in ICT (2.8% of the total investment in 2017), the density of base communication stations in the Republic remains very low (1 base station for 1600 residents). In contrast, in Kazakhstan, one such tower serves ICT needs for 643 residents, and in Russia for 235. This leads to the fact that poor Internet and mobile services slow down digital economic growth and widen the digital divide. Compared to the CIS average, in 2019, the average Internet speed (mobile and fixed broadband) in Uzbekistan was about two times lower. The lack of digital skills in Uzbekistan could be a serious obstacle to digital transformation.