Uzbekistan pushes back Mobiuz sale deadline to April 20 for better bids

The State Assets Management Agency (SAMA) has announced an extension of the deadline for submitting proposals for the privatization of the mobile operator Universal Mobile Systems, which operates under the Mobiuz brand. The agency aims to maximize the economic benefits for the country by fostering a more competitive bidding environment.

Photo: Mobiuz

According to the agency, the three candidates selected from previous stages now have until 11:59 p.m. Tashkent time on April 20 to submit revised binding offers (BO). SAMA emphasized that certain parameters of the auction process are being refined to ensure the best possible outcome for Uzbekistan’s economy within a transparent and competitive framework.

International consultants from KPMG and Rothschild & Co will issue individual procedural letters to the participants, detailing the specific requirements for this final push. The privatization process, which involves the sale of a 100% stake in the operator, initially attracted significant global interest. In June, the consultants received expressions of interest (EoI) from 15 applicants representing local firms as well as investors from Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Transcaucasia, and Central Asia.

By November, the agency had narrowed the field to 10 non-binding price offers. Following recommendations from the consultants, seven bidders advanced to the final stage, with six eventually submitting binding offers by mid-December. After a rigorous analysis based on international best practices, three candidates were shortlisted for offering the highest prices and most competitive transaction terms. These finalists were originally given until January 23 to refine their bids before this latest extension was granted.

Mobiuz is a major player in the national telecommunications market, providing voice and mobile internet services via GSM, UMTS, and 4G LTE standards. At the end of 2024, the company reported a net revenue of 2.086 trillion UZS and a subscriber base of 7.8 million.

The operator has a complex history, having been established through an agreement between Uzbekistan and the Russian telecommunications giant MTS. After MTS exited the joint venture in 2016, the company eventually came under the control of the Ministry of Digital Technologies. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev first ordered the privatization of the carrier in 2022, a directive reaffirmed by a new decree signed in April 2025. According to reports from Bloomberg, the Uzbek government expects the sale of Mobiuz to generate approximately $300 million.