Saudi Arabian DataVolt is discussing connecting Uzbekistan to the international communications line running from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan through the bottom of the Caspian Sea, DataVolt’s CEO Rajit Nanda told in a press conference.
He stated that all internet traffic currently passed through Europe, "so it's important for us to create alternative routes." Connecting to the Caspian line will ensure communications stability and security, and "could generate multi-billion dollar benefits."
"This is of great strategic and economic importance for Uzbekistan. In this regard, we believe that digital transformation has limitless potential for Uzbekistan," he said during a meeting with the president on October 15.
At the conference, he also announced that DataVolt was set to launch a 12 MW data center in Tashkent's IT Park—the first "green" data center in Central Asia using AI. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev launched the data center project on Tuesday.
The company plans to expand its client base and establish partnerships with international IT corporations, including Oracle and Amazon. Projects to build new data centers in New Tashkent and the Bukhara province are also being discussed.
The Trans-Caspian Cable Project envisions the construction of a 380-kilometer fiber-optic communication line along the bottom of the Caspian Sea, connecting Sumgayit (Azerbaijan) and Aktau (Kazakhstan). The project is expected to provide high-bandwidth data transmission and high-speed internet connections of up to 400 terabits per second. The project will be completed in several stages, including coastal and seabed assessment, design and production of high-quality, resilient cables, as well as their transportation and installation. AzerTelecom and Kazakhtelecom plan to complete construction by the end of 2026.
The Trans-Caspian communication line will be part of the "Digital Silk Road" project, which envisions the creation of a digital telecommunications corridor across Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.
In June, Uzbekistan unveiled plans to build a new international fiber-optic communication line to China. "The country will have another fiber-optic connection to the global information space," a representative of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media stated.
