OREANDA-NEWS. January 12, 2009. Review of information and communication technologies development in Uzbekistan for 2006-2008 is published within the framework of the UNDP ICT Policy project, reported the Official website www.investuzbekistan.uz.

The Review provides assessment of various factors impacting ICT development, as well as identifies development trends in the ICT area.

The Review examines ICT development indicators for last two years and provides recommendations in following sections: information infrastructure, ICT and population, ICT and businesses, E-government, E-commerce, E-healthcare, E-education, ICT sector, and Information security.

Review shows positive trend in development of ICT in Uzbekistan, including in E-government and E-Commerce, use of Internet and information security.

As of 1 January 2008, local network of the country had more than 2,000 ATS (Automatic Telephone Stations) with total capacity 2.08 million numbers. Share of digital ones was 82.3%, and as of 1 September 2008 – 86.1%.

Mobile communication services provided by five operators have been rapidly developing during the last period. In September 2008 the number of mobile subscribers in Uzbekistan exceeded 10 mln. and up to the end of year this index exceeded 12 million. Based on evaluations of foreign experts Uzbekistan for second year is in the top-10 list of countries with the highest "mobile communication development index", has and offered tariffs are of the lowest in the world.

Almost all mobile companies started activities on development of 3G networks in Uzbekistan.

Considerable part of review covers issues on Internet development and expansion. So, capacity of international channels that provide connection to Internet became 362 Mbps as of 1 January 2008, and at the beginning of 2002 it was only 8.5 Mbps. By the end of first half year of 2008 capacity has been increased up to 511 Mbps, which resulted in considerable increase of subscribers of leading Internet service providers of Uzbekistan.

Today benefits and advantages of use of information and communication technologies are becoming ever more evident, and ICT is regarded as the powerful instrument creating new opportunities for social and economic development. Therefore, the Review underlines the importance of ensuring accessibility of ICT and their usage as a strategic instrument in achieving the Millennium Development Goals identified in the Millennium Declaration.

The review is of interest not only for ICT specialists but also for broad range of readers – scholars and researchers, teachers, students, journalists, managers, and others – everyone who wants to be introduced into the current state of ICT development in Uzbekistan.