Data Centers in Central Asia: Uzbekistan’s TAS-1 Nears 2026 Completion as Kazakhstan’s Nvidia‑Backed Project Targets 125MW
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are accelerating construction of data centers in Central Asia, with Uzbekistan’s Saudi-backed TAS‑1 facility in Tashkent slated to finish its first phase by the end of 2026 and a Nvidia‑backed campus in Kazakhstan aiming to deliver roughly 125 megawatts of capacity by 2027.
Regional buildout gains pace
The first phase of TAS‑1, developed by DataVolt with Saudi backing, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, marking one of the earliest large-scale commercial data center deliveries in Uzbekistan. This move comes as regional governments and foreign investors seek to capture rising demand for cloud, enterprise and AI workloads within Central Asia. Industry observers say the projects signal a shift from nascent local hosting toward significant hyperscale and specialized facilities.
Investment announcements and groundbreakings across both countries have increased in the past 18 months, reflecting heightened interest from Gulf investors and global technology firms. Developers cite an expanding enterprise market, greater adoption of cloud services, and the need for lower-latency domestic and regional infrastructure as key drivers. These projects also aim to position Central Asia as an alternative node between Europe and East Asia for digital traffic and compute capacity.
TAS‑1’s role in Uzbekistan’s digital strategy
TAS‑1 in Tashkent is being positioned as a flagship campus for Uzbekistan’s emerging digital services sector, according to materials from the developer and local officials. DataVolt, the builder, is overseeing construction and plans to have the initial phase operational by December 2026 to support local hyperscalers and large enterprises. Saudi financial support has underpinned the project’s capital intensity and has helped accelerate timelines.
Local authorities view TAS‑1 as part of a broader push to modernize IT infrastructure and retain more data inside national borders for regulatory and performance reasons. The facility is expected to host cloud providers, telecommunications operators and corporate clients seeking regional redundancy. Officials have also signaled that the center could facilitate new digital services and fintech growth within Uzbekistan.
Kazakhstan’s Nvidia-backed campus and its capacity goals
In neighboring Kazakhstan, a high-profile campus backed by Nvidia is projected to deliver about 125 megawatts of IT load by 2027, a scale typically associated with hyperscale AI compute and large cloud operations. The commitment reflects a strategic focus on supporting training and inference workloads for artificial intelligence as well as traditional cloud services. Developers characterize the campus as a potential hub for both regional demand and international cloud providers seeking more distributed compute.
The Nvidia association underscores the specific appeal of Central Asia for AI infrastructure, where proximity to energy sources, cooler continental climates and strategic geography can be factors in locating large GPU farms. The Kazakhstan project is also seen as part of a broader wave of investments targeting specialized compute for machine learning and data analytics.
Investment dynamics and international partnerships
Gulf-based investment and partnerships with global cloud and chip vendors are reshaping the financing model for data centers in the region. Sovereign and private capital from the Middle East has provided significant backing for projects that previously would have struggled to secure large-scale funding. At the same time, tie-ups with technology suppliers ensure access to the latest server, networking and cooling technologies.
Such partnerships often include commitments around design, procurement and preferential access to specialized hardware, which can shorten time to market for large facilities. Market participants say this approach reduces technical risk for local developers and strengthens the case for bringing in enterprise and hyperscale customers that require certified infrastructure and predictable operations.
Demand, connectivity and market drivers
Several demand-side factors are converging to support the regional buildout. Cloud adoption among governments and enterprises is rising, AI workloads are becoming more geographically dispersed, and businesses are seeking to reduce latency by hosting services closer to end users. Additionally, improvements in regional fiber connectivity are enabling faster cross-border traffic and integration with broader Eurasian networks.
The presence of local digital ecosystems, including fintech, e‑commerce and media streaming, contributes to steady baseline demand for data center services. For international providers, Central Asia offers a relatively untapped market with potential to serve adjacent regions while offering alternative routes and redundancy for global networks.
Operational and regulatory challenges ahead
Despite momentum, builders and operators face practical hurdles, including securing long-term, reliable power and addressing cooling efficiency in continental climates that can experience both hot summers and cold winters. Grid upgrades, power purchase agreements and on-site generation strategies will be critical to ensuring operational stability for large IT loads. Water availability and environmental permitting also figure into planning for some sites.
Workforce development is another constraint; operators need skilled engineers and technicians experienced in data center operations, energy management and network engineering. Regulatory clarity on data sovereignty, cross-border data transfers and tax incentives will influence investor confidence and customer procurement decisions. Project timelines may be affected if these issues are not resolved in coordination with local authorities.
The completion of TAS‑1’s first phase by the end of 2026 and the push toward 125 megawatts in Kazakhstan by 2027 together reflect a turning point for data centers in Central Asia, moving the region from isolated facilities toward large-scale campuses designed for cloud and AI workloads.
Industry growth will depend on how quickly developers can secure energy, talent and predictable regulatory frameworks, and whether demand for low-latency and locally hosted services continues to expand across Central Asian markets.
