Description
Following the Chinese mantra of 'let the small go and the big stay', the telecommunications sector was one of the first to be liberalised in Uzbekistan. It is one of the most dynamic sectors, covering a wide range of economic activities, from smart cities and banking to agriculture and the internet. However, there is still a lack of understanding regarding how these services are produced, who produces them and who they are produced for. This paper will examine the role of international players in telecommunications services and consider whether they contribute to Uzbekistan's structural transformation. By examining the major market players, including local, Turkish, and Chinese providers, the paper will explore whether these services have become a means of establishing multiple political, cultural, and material channels between international investors and the domestic economy. The relationship between national state capacity and foreign capital inflow will be explored to shed light on challenges linked to national infrastructure and investment in technology-intensive sectors.
