Mobile Internet and Wi-Fi in Uzbekistan: What to Know
Where 4G works, how coverage holds up on trains, in the mountains and in the desert, how hotel Wi-Fi is, and how to stay connected on long routes.
You need internet on a trip for maps, translation, keeping in touch and booking. The good news: Uzbekistan's mobile network is well developed, and in big cities speeds are plenty for video calls. The bad news is that on long journeys there are dead zones. Here is how it all works.
Mobile service and SIM cards
Several national operators work in the country, and all offer data plans. You can buy a SIM card at operator shops at the airport, in shopping centres and at city offices. You usually need a passport: the seller registers the number in your name. Terms and prices change, so check current plans on the spot. If your phone supports eSIM, you can arrange an international plan in advance, but that is also worth checking before you travel.
Tip: buy a SIM card on the day you arrive and check on the spot that data and calls work and the hotspot settings on your phone are correct.
Where 4G works
In Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Fergana, Andijan and other large cities, 4G coverage is stable. It is also good along the main highways. Speed drops:
- in dense development and in basements;
- in big shopping centres and at stations at rush hour;
- in foothill and mountain areas;
- in desert stretches between Bukhara and Khiva, and on the way to Nukus and Karakalpakstan;
- in small villages far from the highway.
Internet on the road
On popular highways, such as between Tashkent and Samarkand, coverage mostly holds, with occasional gaps. On sections through the Kyzylkum desert and in the mountains, gaps are longer. If keeping navigation matters, download offline maps of the region beforehand. Map apps let you save an entire area, and it works without a network, showing your position by GPS.
Also save in advance:
- an offline translator with Russian and Uzbek;
- tickets, bookings and hotel addresses as screenshots;
- phone numbers for the driver, hotel and insurer.
Internet on trains
On the high-speed Afrosiyob, Sharq and Nasaf trains, mobile data mostly works along populated stretches. Official Wi-Fi may exist in carriages, but stability depends on the train and section, so rely on the mobile network and prepare by downloading films, music and books.
Wi-Fi in hotels, cafes and public places
Most hotels, hostels and guesthouses have Wi-Fi, especially in tourist cities. Speed varies: good in new hotels, sometimes slow in small guesthouses. Many cafes and shopping centres also have free Wi-Fi, sometimes asking for a phone number. Do not enter payment details or passwords on public networks without a VPN or a secured connection.
VPN and service restrictions
Some services and websites may be unavailable or unstable, depending on providers' decisions and current restrictions. If you use particular messengers, cloud services or video platforms, check that they work before you go. A VPN can be used to protect data on a public network, but act within the law and the services' terms. Before your trip it helps to check current restrictions, since the situation changes.
How not to lose connection
- carry a power bank, as roads can be long;
- save your main trip details offline;
- tell family your route and arrival time;
- in remote areas, warn the driver that the signal may drop.
Connectivity and intercity trips
For a short trip, such as Tashkent — Chirchik, the mobile network is stable all the way. On the long Bukhara — Khiva route, where part of the road passes through desert, download maps and messages for the driver in advance. Yo'ldosh lets you book a seat in the app ahead of time while the internet works, and the trip details and the driver's contact stay in your phone. All directions are collected on the all routes page.
A little preparation before you leave avoids most connection problems: a SIM card bought in advance, offline maps and a charged phone.
Cover photo: Solijon Solayev, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
