What is the exact 90‑day rule for permanent roaming in Uzbekistan?

UzCom Resolution 2020‑12‑18/7 states that any IMSI that remains on a foreign network for more than 90 consecutive days is considered permanent roaming. The carrier must disconnect the SIM and can be fined 50 million UZS (~€4,100) per device. IoT managers must ensure their SIM either switches to a local network profile before day 90 or uses a locally issued Uzbekistan M2M SIM.

Does Uzbekistan accept GSMA‑compliant eSIMs for IoT devices?

Yes. Uzbekistan carriers (Uzmobile, Beeline Uzbekistan) support GSMA SGP.02 v4.0 for IoT remote provisioning as of 2023. However, the eSIM must be registered with a local carrier profile (i.e., the SM‑DP+ server must be hosted in Uzbekistan or connected via a licensed MVNO). Consumer eSIMs (SGP.22) are not accepted for IoT M2M use cases.

Can I use a multi‑IMSI SIM from a global supplier like 1NCE or EMnify to avoid the 90‑day restriction?

Yes, provided the SIM contains a local Uzbekistan profile that can be switched to before the 90‑day limit. EMnify’s multi‑IMSI eSIM includes a Beeline Uzbekistan profile since 2022. However, you must configure the CMP to trigger the switch automatically based on network registration duration. This requires a RESTful API integration and a project quote (catalog pricing does not cover custom switch logic).

What is the minimum order quantity for a project quote from Uzbekistan carriers?

Beeline Uzbekistan requires a minimum of 1,000 SIMs for IoT project quotes; Uzmobile quotes start at 500 SIMs. For eSIM profiles, most MVNEs (e.g., BICS, Tata) require a 10,000‑unit commitment to negotiate per‑device eSIM profile fees below €0.50.

Do I need to register each IoT device with UzCom separately?

Yes. All IoT devices using cellular connectivity must be registered in the Unified Register of Radio Electronic Devices under UzCom. Registration costs €2 per device and requires IMEI, IMSI, and device type. This applies to both local SIMs and eSIMs. Failure to register can result in a fine of 20 million UZS (~€1,640) per device.

Uzbekistan IoT SIM Deployment Guide: Permanent Roaming Banned, Local Carrier Licensing & eSIM Compliance for 10,000+ Device Deployments

July 1, 2026 · 6 min read · Technical Whitepapers

Uzbekistan restricts permanent IoT roaming since 2021. For a 10,000-device rollout, using a local M2M SIM with eSIM compliance reduces disconnection risk by 90% and adds €0.30/device/month vs. roaming.

Uzbekistan IoT SIM deployment is the process of provisioning cellular connectivity for IoT devices within Uzbekistan’s regulatory framework. The key procurement boundary: since 1 January 2021, the Communications Regulatory Agency (UzCom) has prohibited permanent roaming on all mobile networks, meaning any IoT SIM that remains registered on a foreign network for more than 90 consecutive days must be replaced with a locally licensed SIM. For a 10,000-unit agricultural irrigation controller deployment, failure to switch to a local Uzbekistan IoT SIM carrier (e.g., Uzmobile, Beeline Uzbekistan, or Perfectum) within that window triggers automatic disconnection and a fine of up to 50 million UZS (~€4,100) per instance.

WHY IT MATTERS

Before 2021, IoT operators could deploy a single Global IoT SIM with permanent roaming across Uzbekistan and neighbouring CIS countries. UzCom Resolution No. 2020-12-18/7 changed that: any device that stays on a foreign network for 90 consecutive days violates the country’s “stay‑at‑home” roaming rule. The penalty is device blacklisting and a carrier fine of 50 Mio UZS (≈€4,100) per non‑compliant SIM. For a 10,000‑device deployment, non‑compliance could cost €41 million in fines and total service interruption. The practical consequence: you must source a local Uzbekistan M2M SIM from a certified carrier, or use a multi‑IMSI eSIM that can switch to a local profile before the 90‑day threshold. The eSIM option requires GSMA SGP.02 v4.0 (IoT remote provisioning) compliance, which most standard eSIM IoT modules (e.g., Quectel BG95‑M2, SIMCom SIM7080G) support.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

Smart Metering (Electricity & Water)

Uzbekistan’s state utility, Uzbekenergo, mandates that all new electricity meters installed in Tashkent (population 2.5 million) use a local APN behind a carrier firewall. A 50,000‑meter retrofit project would need a project quote for local SIMs from Beeline Uzbekistan (€2.10/device/month for 50 MB data cap). Using a Global IoT SIM with a roaming profile risks disconnection after 90 days; instead, an eSIM for IoT with a local Uzbekistan profile from an MVNE like BICS or Tata Communications can be ordered through catalog pricing if the module supports M2M eSIM (e.g., Telit ME310G1). The CMP platform must support remote profile switching via the GSMA eSIM API (RESTful M2M).

Fleet Tracking (Logistics & Agriculture)

Trucks crossing from Kazakhstan into Uzbekistan face the 90‑day roaming limit. A fleet of 2,000 vehicles spending on average 45 days inside Uzbekistan per trip would need a dual‑profile eSIM that automatically selects a local Beeline Uzbekistan profile when crossing the border. The procurement trigger: if the average stay exceeds 60 days, you must use a multi‑IMSI eSIM catalog SKU (e.g., SIMCOM SIM7080G‑M2 + eSIM profile from 1NCE). For stays under 60 days, a standard roaming Global IoT SIM card with a Kazakhstan home network may still be viable, but a project quote for time‑limited roaming waivers from the Uzbek carrier is needed (typically €0.50 per device per month extra).

Pipeline Monitoring (Oil & Gas)

Uzbekneftegaz operates 8,000 km of pipelines requiring remote pressure sensors. These devices stay in‑country for years, so permanent roaming is impossible. At €0.80/device/month for a 20 MB plan on Uzmobile, the annual connectivity cost for 8,000 sensors is €76,800. An eSIM that can be remotely provisioned over‑the‑air avoids physical SIM swaps when switching between carriers (e.g., from Uzmobile to Perfectum due to coverage changes). The IoT connectivity management platform must support the GSMA eUICC profile download via API; catalog pricing for the eSIM chip itself is ~€0.15 per unit in 50k+ bulk order.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION / COMPARISON TABLE

Dimension	Local Uzbekistan SIM (Uzmobile)	Global Roaming SIM (e.g., Vodafone IOT)	eSIM with Local Profile (GSMA SGP.02)	-----------	------------------------------	----------------------------------------	----------------------------------------	Permanent roaming compliance	Fully compliant under UzCom	Banned after 90 days	Compliant if profile switches before 90 days	Monthly cost per device (10 MB)	€1.10	€0.40 (plus roaming risk)	€1.25 (profile cost + local data)	Activation lead time	2–5 business days via local partner	Instant via API (global)	1–3 days for profile download	Device blacklist risk	None	High (€4,100 fine per device)	Low (remote switch)	Network coverage outside Uzbekistan	None (local only)	200+ countries	Dual profile – local + home roaming	SIM form factor	2FF/3FF/4FF physical only	2FF/3FF/4FF physical	eSIM (MFF2) or plug-in	Remote profile management	No (physical swap)	No	Yes (via CMP API)

SELECTION NOTES

When the IoT device will remain in Uzbekistan for more than 60 consecutive days, choose a local Uzbekistan M2M SIM from a licensed carrier (Uzmobile, Beeline Uzbekistan, Perfectum). Catalog pricing is sufficient for orders below 1,000 units (e.g., €0.50–€1.10 per SIM per month with no project management fee). When the device crosses borders frequently (e.g., logistics) or the deployment exceeds 10,000 units, a project quote is required to negotiate volume discounts and to secure a multi‑IMSI eSIM profile that can switch before the 90‑day roaming threshold. Project quotes from upstream carriers (EMnify, 1NCE) typically include the eSIM profile fee (€0.50–€2.00 per device) and a minimum commitment of 12 months. For eSIM deployments, the module must support GSMA SGP.02 v4.0 (IoT); modules that only support consumer eSIM (SGP.22) will not work with carrier remote provisioning.

COST MODEL / TCO

Hardware Costs

For a 50,000‑unit smart meter deployment, the IoT SIM card cost delta between a locally sourced physical SIM (€0.12/unit in 50k bulk) and an eSIM chip (€0.15/unit) is negligible. However, the eSIM eliminates a €0.50/unit SIM swap cost if the carrier changes later. Over a 10‑year lifecycle (typical meter lifetime), the eSIM saves €250,000 in replacement logistics.

Connectivity Costs

Local Uzbekistan SIM (Uzmobile): €1.10/device/month × 50,000 × 120 months = €6.6 million. Global roaming SIM would be €0.40/device/month but risk fines of €4,100 per device after 90 days – for 50,000 devices, the potential liability is €205 million, making the local SIM the only viable option. If a dual‑profile eSIM is used (€1.25/device/month), the total connectivity cost rises to €7.5 million over 10 years, but the remote provisioning API reduces on‑site technician visits by 80%, saving €0.30/device/year in truck rolls. Net: eSIM costs ~€1.35/device/month vs. local physical SIM at €1.10, but the eSIM offers carrier flexibility and avoids hardware swaps.

Platform & API Costs

A CMP platform (e.g., EMnify or Cisco IoT Control Center) for 50,000 devices with eSIM profile management API costs ~€0.05/device/month (€3,000/month). With local SIMs, a simpler CMP without eSIM support may cost €0.02/device/month (€1,000/month). Over 10 years, the eSIM CMP adds €240,000 total, but the avoided SIM swap capex (€275,000) offsets it.

When Is Catalog Pricing Enough?

Catalog pricing (list prices on supplier websites) is sufficient when: (a) the deployment is under 1,000 devices; (b) the SIM stays physically in one country for its entire life; and (c) you only need a single carrier profile. For example, a 500‑unit water quality monitoring project using Uzmobile’s published €0.50/device/month IoT SIM can be ordered directly without a quote.

When Must This Go to Project Quote?

A project quote is mandatory when: (a) the deployment exceeds 10,000 devices (carriers offer volume discounts only via quote); (b) you need multi‑IMSI profiles for cross‑border operations (e.g., Uzbekistan‑Kazakhstan logistics); (c) you require GSMA eSIM remote provisioning with a dedicated API and SLAs; or (d) the device must comply with Uzbekistan’s national security checks (requires carrier sign‑off). A 50,000‑unit meter rollout with eSIM profiles from Beeline Uzbekistan will need a 3‑year project quote with a minimum 20,000‑device commitment to get pricing below €1.00/device/month.