Applications for the purchase of Mobiuz were accepted yesterday. (https://gov.uz/ru/davaktiv/news/view/59663)
So far, only the first stage is underway (there will be three of them), but it is already clear that privatization can change a lot.
The fact is that telecom in Uzbekistan is heavily regulated.
The state controls everything: radio frequencies, the international Internet channel, permits, and so on.
This, of course, scares away foreign companies. That's why banks come to us, (https://t.me/skartariss/22 ) supermarkets, (https://t.me/skartariss/815 ) online services, (https://t.me/skartariss/1103 ) but not mobile operators.
The privatization of Mobiuz is a completely different story. This is a way to enter Uzbekistan without running through offices for licenses. Everything is ready, including 7.8 million customers.
Simply put, Uzbekistan is not selling the company, but the way to the market. And this greatly increases the chances that some well-known brand or at least a large international group will visit us.
This would be ideal, because we need not just a buyer, but a real investor who will invest money in expanding coverage, improving communications, and launching new products.
Uzbekistan has already been through this. Remember how much Uzdunrobita changed after it was completely bought out by MTS in 2007.
The level of service and quality of communication have improved so much that in just four years the number of subscribers has grown from 2.8 million to 9.3 million, and revenue has increased from $248 million to $441 million (these figures are impressive even now, in 2025).
The better things went for MTS, the more other operators tried. That's how competition works. That's how it can be now.
So, privatization is necessary, but it must be real, with the arrival of a strong strategic investor (Turkish Telecom, Etisalat and many others) — this will give a powerful boost to the entire communications market in Uzbekistan.
If the company passes into the hands of a "pocket" investor, then there will hardly be any changes for the better. On the contrary, everyone will be disappointed — entrepreneurs, companies, consumers.
Thus, the privatization of Mobiuz will be an important event in any case.: This will be either a big step forward or a serious setback.
We will find out when the results of the auction are summed up, it will probably be by the end of the year.