Uzbekistan’s digital transformation: From landlocked to land-connected

Saud-based DataVolt has launched its first 10 MW data centre in Uzbekistan and plans a sweeping investment expansion of up to US$5 billion by 2030.

The initial 10 MW centre began construction in May 2024. This project is central to Uzbekistan’s ambition to convert its landlocked geography into a land-connected digital hub, reinforced by a planned trilateral fibre-optic corridor via Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan under the Caspian Sea.

Why it matters

Uzbekistan, historically insulated by geography, is actively reversing its landlocked constraints by building infrastructure that links it directly to global digital routes. The Caspian seabed cable—extending 380 km from Aktau (Kazakhstan) to Sumgait (Azerbaijan)—is set to carry high-capacity data and serve as a strategic east–west digital bridge. The initiative is part of the larger Digital Silk Way strategy to connect Asia and Europe via secure, alternate digital routes. 

By diversifying its digital channels, Uzbekistan expects to reduce reliance on European transit routes that may be vulnerable or congested. The new infrastructure is also designed to support cloud, AI, and data services within sovereign territory, improving latency, resilience, and control over critical digital assets.

Who’s involved & how it’s structured

The project is a cooperation between Uzbekistan’s government (including the Ministry of Digital Technologies and the IT Park), DataVolt, and regional partners in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Uzbekistan’s ministry and IT Park signed a strategic agreement with DataVolt for a 10 MW Tier-3+ green data centre. During a July 2025 meeting, DataVolt committed to integrating renewable energy usage and I-REC certification for green power as part of its infrastructure model. 

The data centres will start with the 10 MW facility in Tashkent’s IT Park. (This centre is supported by $150 million in investment. In subsequent phases, smaller sites are planned in Bukhara (40 MW, expandable to 250 MW) and a large 250 MW facility in the “New Tashkent” area on 25 hectares. 

On the Caspian cable front, the Kazakhstan–Azerbaijan underwater link is entering its active phase. The line is expected to be operational by end of 2026, with a projected capacity of 400 terabits per second. 

This strategy could transform Uzbekistan into a digital transit and service hub—not just within Central Asia, but as part of a broader East–West digital axis. By bridging geography with fibre and data, Uzbekistan may steadily convert its landlocked status into one of land-connectedness—anchoring its place in the global digital order.

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