The GSMA’s M360 Eurasia edition returns this month with a new host city — Tashkent, Uzbekistan — setting the stage for a showcase of regional digital transformation with 5G and AI at the forefront, alongside a renewed focus on bridging the digital divide.
As the mobile ecosystem gears up to gather in Central Asia’s rising tech capital between 21 May and 22 May, the event underlines a broader push to advance regional connectivity, policy reform and innovation. For new GSMA director general Vivek Badrinath, the decision to host the show in Tashkent reflects Uzbekistan’s growing role in the global digital industry.
“Tashkent was chosen as this year’s venue because Uzbekistan is rapidly emerging as a regional technology hub, driven by a clear national vision and substantial investment in digital infrastructure,” Badrinath (pictured, left) told Mobile World Live (MWL). “Initiatives such as ‘Digital Uzbekistan 2030’ align strategically with M360 Eurasia’s goals of fostering collaboration, innovation, and inclusion.”
Indeed, the country’s digital strategy for 2030 combined with sustained investment in infrastructure and talent is making it an increasingly attractive hub for regional innovation, Badrinath explained. Notably, the nation is home to IT Park Uzbekistan, a government-backed tech cluster that is becoming a magnet for startups, outsourcing firms and international partnerships. Highlighting Uzbekistan’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Badrinath stressed that with “a young, dynamic population, over half of whom are under the age of 30, the country is primed to become a vibrant hub for innovation and digital talent in the region.”
Meanwhile, according to Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the arrival of M360 in Tashkent sends a signal to the global tech community “that Central Asia is open, dynamic, and ready to contribute to the development of next-generation technologies”.
That vision for the region is shared by host sponsor Veon Group-owned Beeline Uzebekistan. Veon operates in several regional markets including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and CEO Kaan Terzioglu echoed Badrinath, stating that M360’s arrival in Tashkent “could not be timelier”.
Terzioglu (pictured, left) highlighted Uzbekistan as “a priority market”, expressing ambitions to continue investment in the region as a direct response to surging consumer demand for digital services such as mobile streaming, m-commerce, and mobile payments. “We see very positive consumer trends and market opportunity.”
The Veon chief remains optimistic that the event will nurture the digital ambitions of both the country and Beeline Uzbekistan,. Through Beeline, Veon has invested more than $1.5 billion in Uzbekistan since entering the market in 2006. Today, the country ranks among its top-performing markets, alongside Kazakhstan. The company operates a growing portfolio of digital services in Uzbekistan, including mobile entertainment platforms, fintech solutions, and enterprise services, all delivered under its local Beeline brand.
Programme with a purpose
At last year’s M360 Eurasia in Baku, AI and 5G dominated the conversation. In Tashkent, those themes remain central, but with the aim of nudging the needle from dialogue to delivery. For GSMA’s director general, the focus is now on “scaling these technologies in real-world environments,” from smart cities to intelligent networks. “The conversation is also expanding to include cross-industry use cases, sustainable connectivity, and the fiscal environments that either enable or hinder progress.”
The two-day event will host sessions on critical topics including 5G, AI, cybersecurity, digital financial services, and spectrum allocation. Discussions will focus on sustainable infrastructure investment, enabling regulatory frameworks, and talent development across Eurasia.
With regards to speakers, Badrinath is keen to hear from regional policymakers and mobile operators at the frontline of digital access expansion and service innovation. The line-up features voices from across public and private sectors including Minister Shermatov, Azercell CEO Zarina Zeynalova, and Terzioglu himself. “Their work on advancing digital access, building new services, and creating supportive policy environments is central to the discussion,” Badrinath said.
According to the GSMA chief, as AI becomes woven more deeply into digital infrastructure today, “it is essential we approach it with both ambition and responsibility”. For Veon, the technology is already embedded in its operating model. Terzioglu explained that the company’s subsidiary QazCode, based in Kazakhstan, leads the group’s AI initiatives and recently launched a Kazakh-language LLM in collaboration with national research institutes and international partners such as GSMA Foundry and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. Nonetheless, the CEO expects the upcoming event to foster valuable dialogue and opportunities for collaboration while serving as a platform to spotlight the region’s rapid digital evolution.
Meanwhile, Shermatov told MWL that for Uzbekistan, participating in M360 Eurasia represents a chance to contribute to regional digital leadership, forge partnerships and draw on international best practices to accelerate its national transformation agenda. “Active participation in global events is key to raising awareness of national achievements and ensuring that Uzbekistan’s voice is part of international conversations shaping the future of technology and regulation,” he added.
Indeed, with representation from both industry leaders and policymakers, the event aims to provide a 360-degree view of the Eurasian digital landscape. “We want to explore actionable pathways for unlocking economic potential, building resilience, and sparking a new wave of innovation across the region,” Badrinath explained.
Bridging the gap
A pressing theme expected to dominate discussions is the bridging of the mobile usage gap –– the growing divide between those who live within network coverage in the region but remain offline due to barriers such as affordability, digital literacy, or lack of relevant content. While the region is advancing on several fronts, data from the GSMA’s Mobile Sector Taxation Report in Eurasia revealed that as of 2024, 28 per cent of people in Eurasia are covered by mobile broadband networks but do not use mobile internet, with countries such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan exceeding that average.
While the region has made significant strides, with mobile subscriber penetration rising 11 per cent and mobile internet usage growing 14 per cent over the past decade, progress has remained uneven. Unique mobile subscriber penetration remains relatively low in several countries, including Uzbekistan.
“It’s not enough to build the networks,” Badrinath stressed. “We need to ensure that connectivity leads to meaningful inclusion.” The GSMA’s Breaking Barriers campaign will feature prominently to this end, spotlighting global and regional efforts to expand mobile internet adoption and building ecosystems that support long-term digital growth. For Terzioglu, the event marks a prime opportunity to highlight the digital progress achieved by Uzbekistan and the broader Eurasian region “to create a thriving digital economy where no one is left behind”.
As the industry turns its attention to Tashkent for the mobile ecosystem’s latest discussions on technology, policy and investment, M360 Eurasia 2025 will offer a timely lens into how the region is turning ambition into action. For Badrinath, it is a critical opportunity to elevate Eurasia’s role in the global digital dialogue; he called for collaborative efforts between governments, mobile operators and wider industry players to bolster the country’s digital ambitions.
For Shermatov, the mission is clear: “to transform Uzbekistan into a regional IT hub and a center for the development and deployment of digital technologies that drive economic growth across Central Asia”. And for Veon, it is a chance to help shape what comes next. “In short, we see a lot of good trends, and more importantly big potential that deserves to be developed,” Terzioglu concluded.
Ultimately, M360 Eurasia is set to be a launchpad for digital innovation, collaboration, and progress that leaves no one behind.