Beyond the historic union. CIS: one diverse region – multiple polarities.
Part One Recap
In Part One of this publication, we explored the pro-European trajectory countries within the CIS region, their regulatory alignments and future compliance trends. We established that these states are increasingly converging with EU frameworks, accelerating security-driven reforms, moving away from legacy CIS systems, and creating a more integrated compliance landscape for telecom and digital market participants.
Part Two: Asia-/Regionally-Oriented Trajectory
In Part Two, we turn to countries pursuing a more regionally integrated or Asia-facing trajectory - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - and examine the developments shaping their telecommunications and digital policy agendas.
This group of countries prioritises state-led digital development, infrastructure expansion, and regional connectivity over formal EU harmonisation. Policies focus on digital sovereignty, strategic infrastructure investments, and centralised governance models. This marks a significant departure from earlier frameworks, many of which either mirrored Russian approaches or remained relatively underdeveloped.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 became a catalyst for digital-policy divergence across the CIS. The conflict exposed vulnerabilities in infrastructure, supply chains, and cybersecurity, encouraging governments to modernise telecom laws, diversify international connectivity, and reduce dependence on Russian technical and regulatory influence. Heightened cyber risks and geopolitical uncertainty also accelerated investment in national digital capabilities and new partnerships with the EU, China, Turkey, United Nations, as well as companies in satellite, smart and telecom industries.
As a result, many CIS countries have strengthened cybersecurity frameworks, expanded digital-transformation programmes, and adopted new approaches to digital governance. Two broad themes illustrate this shift: regional connectivity initiatives and national digital sovereignty policies.
Regional Connectivity and Country-shared policies:
Unlike EU-oriented countries, integration within this group is being driven by infrastructure as well as regulatory harmonisation. Programmes such as the Digital Silk Way, CAREC Digital Strategy 2030, APIS, and the EU Global Gateway are expanding fibre networks, satellite connectivity, and regional data exchange, strengthening the region's role as a bridge between Europe and Asia.
The Digital Silk Way is one of the most prominent examples. Involving Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, it aims to create a Trans-Caspian fibre corridor linking Europe and Asia while increasing regional transit capacity and competitiveness.
Regional cooperation is also advancing through Digital Government Cooperation programmes involving Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. These initiatives support the adoption of shared digital government standards, the modernisation of public e-services, and broader capacity-building efforts across participating states.
Meanwhile, the EU Global Gateway Connectivity Programme seeks to extend satellite broadband coverage across Central Asia, helping connect remote communities and improving access in underserved rural areas.
The CAREC Digital Strategy 2030 promotes cross-border fibre infrastructure, digital trade facilitation, and regional data exchange among Central Asian and South Caucasus states, while the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (APIS) supports broader connectivity and digital-trade development across the region.
Digital cooperation is also growing through the Organization of Turkic States, which has expanded collaboration in cybersecurity, digital government, smart cities, standardisation, and emerging technologies. While these initiatives do not create a common regulatory framework, they demonstrate a growing willingness to coordinate on practical digital-development priorities.
Digital & Regulatory sovereignty policies:
Alongside these regional initiatives, governments are increasingly pursuing national strategies designed to strengthen digital sovereignty. AI governance, cybersecurity, telecommunications regulation, and data governance are emerging as key priorities across the region.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan have all introduced major digital-transformation and AI-related programmes in recent years. Although approaches vary, they share common objectives: strengthening national control over critical digital infrastructure, improving cybersecurity, developing domestic digital capabilities, and reducing reliance on external regulatory models.
In Azerbaijan, digital policy is being shaped by the AI Strategy 2025–2028, the Information Security and Cybersecurity Strategy 2023–2027, and the Digital Transformation Strategy 2022–2026. Together, these initiatives support the gradual development of a more independent digital regulatory framework.
Kazakhstan has adopted one of the region's most ambitious approaches through its Law on Artificial Intelligence, the Cyber Shield programme, and the Digital Qazaqstan strategy. These measures support continued 5G deployment, expanded digital access, and a more sophisticated regulatory framework for cybersecurity and spectrum management.
In Uzbekistan, Digital Uzbekistan 2030 and the new Telecommunications Law provide the foundation for rapid digital modernisation, supporting infrastructure investment and regulatory reform across the sector.
Kyrgyzstan is advancing digital public services and cybersecurity through its Digital Transformation Concept and updated cybersecurity legislation, while Tajikistan has declared 2025–2030 the "Years of Digital Economy and Innovation Development" and adopted an AI development strategy extending to 2040.
Turkmenistan continues to pursue a distinct state-led model centred on the Arkadag smart-city project and broader government-directed digital-development initiatives. Compared with its neighbours, reform remains more centralised and domestically focused.
Horizon Scan – Summary, Trends & Future Compliance Implications
• Rise of Digital Sovereignty Frameworks – governments are adopting national AI strategies, cybersecurity laws, digital transformation programmes, and telecommunications reforms that prioritise strategic autonomy, compliance schemes, national security, and state oversight of critical digital infrastructure.
• Divergence from Traditional CIS Models – While the pace differs between countries, many states are moving away from legacy Russian-influenced approaches and pursuing more independent regulatory frameworks supported by a wider range of international partnerships.
• Fragmented but Maturing Compliance Environment – Unlike EU-aligned states, these countries are not converging towards a single regulatory model. They introduce differing approaches to AI governance, cybersecurity requirements, licensing regimes, and data governance.
• Growing Strategic Importance for Telecom and Digital Operators – continued investment in fibre corridors, 5G networks, data infrastructure, and satellite connectivity is positioning the region as a critical Europe–Asia digital transit hub, creating new market opportunities while increasing the importance of monitoring national regulatory developments and security-related compliance requirements.