Uzbekistan installs active optical fiber cable OSFP

Uzbekistan is expanding its fiber-optic network with large-scale installations across multiple regions, enhancing digital infrastructure and connectivity.Regional Fiber-Optic DeploymentUzbekistan is implementing a major project to design, procure, and install fiber-optic cables in the Andijan, Namangan, and Fergana regions. The total planned cable length is 438 km, including Optical Ground Wire (OPGW), Underground Fiber Optic Cable (UGFOC), and Optical Fiber Approach Cable (OFAC) types. The project is executed by JSC “ELEKTRQISHLOQQURILISH”, which won the international tender with a contract value of USD 3,171,282. This initiative is part of the Electricity Sector Transformation and Resilient Transmission (ESTART) Project, financed in part by the World Bank, aiming to modernize Uzbekistan's electricity and digital infrastructure .Strategic and International ConnectivityUzbekistan is also pursuing cross-border digital connectivity. A trans-Caspian fiber-optic cable is planned to link Uzbekistan with Azerbaijan via Kazakhstan, reducing dependence on Russian-controlled networks and providing alternative data transmission routes. This project, supported by the Saudi-based firm DataVolt, is considered strategically and economically important, potentially generating multi-billion-dollar benefits and supporting Uzbekistan's digital economy expansion in partnership with global tech companies like Oracle and Amazon .Domestic Cable ManufacturingTo support these infrastructure projects, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are jointly establishing a $10 million cable manufacturing plant in the Fergana region. The facility, named Osiyo Kabellari, will produce aluminum and copper wire, with an annual capacity of 15,000 tons of copper wire and 1,700 tons of aluminum wire, and is expected to be operational by December 2025. This plant will strengthen local supply chains, create jobs, and support exports to neighboring CIS countries .Broader Fiber-Optic ExpansionAdditional projects include fiber-optic installations in Syrdarya, Jizzakh, and Tashkent regions, totaling 464 km, further enhancing Uzbekistan's national digital backbone. These projects require contractors with experience in large-scale OPGW installations and financial stability, ensuring high-quality deployment across the country .ImplicationsThe deployment of active optical fiber cables, including OSFP-compatible infrastructure, will significantly improve internet speed, reliability, and resilience in Uzbekistan. It also positions the country to integrate with international digital corridors, diversify data routes, and support economic modernization and regional trade networks .