Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The agency Uzbekcosmos will begin developing a national space program aimed at 2035. This was announced on January 16 during a press conference by Mukhiddin Ibrahimov, head of the department for the development of aerospace activities and space monitoring systems.

In preparing the document, Uzbekcosmos will engage 4-5 consulting companies, including global leaders like SpaceX and the British Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL).

The main goal of the strategy is to outline key areas for the development of the space industry over the next 10 years, including short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans.

"The primary focus will be on the use of data, primarily Earth observation (EO), infrastructure development, as well as satellites and ground systems for satellite navigation," Ibrahimov clarified.

He also added that the program will place a special emphasis on education, with significant investments planned in this area. It is expected that the program will be ready and presented to the public by mid-2025.

It is worth noting that in October of last year, Uzbekcosmos signed a cooperation agreement with the American company SpaceX and the British Surrey Satellite Technology. These foreign companies have expressed readiness to provide consulting services for creating Uzbekistan’s national space program.

Additionally, Uzbekistan is negotiating with international companies to deploy satellite constellations for Earth observation. Ibrahimov emphasized that communication issues in this sphere are regulated by the Ministry of Digital Technologies.

"I have information that negotiations are ongoing regarding the deployment of various satellite constellations in Uzbekistan. This process involves several bureaucratic procedures. I am confident that all issues will be resolved in due time, but I cannot provide exact timelines," Ibrahimov said.

He also pointed out that Kazakhstan is actively developing satellite communications, given its vast territory and low population density, while Uzbekistan has much stronger fiber-optic communication infrastructure, and the penetration of this technology in the country’s settlements is very high.

Ibrahimov also stressed the importance of assessing the feasibility of using satellite communications, as it is significantly more expensive than building ground-based infrastructure.

"We have encountered statements suggesting that the launch of satellite communication will supposedly lead to free internet. This is not the case, because satellite communication is inherently an expensive technology," he concluded.

It is also important to note that on 13 January, the President of Uzbekistan signed the "Space Activity Law," which was approved by the Oliy Majlis.

According to the law, space monitoring and Earth observation will be carried out by a special operator.