Escaping Russia’s web: Central Asia is caught between Chinese networks and US tech curbs

AI Summary

Tajikistan has opened a direct fibre-optic connection from Dushanbe to Beijing, giving it another international internet route and access to Hong Kong’s major traffic exchange ecosystem. The move unfolds amid Russian infrastructure disruption from Ukrainian drone attacks and US technology restrictions affecting Central Asia’s connectivity choices.

Days after three Russian data centres were hit by Ukrainian drone attacks last month – paralysing taxi, delivery and payment apps across Central Asia – Tajikistan launched an internet link between its capital Dushanbe and Beijing. The optical fibre, which runs through the Pamir Mountains, offers a direct link to Hong Kong – one of the largest internet traffic exchange points in the Asia-Pacific – and marks Tajikistan’s fifth international communication access point. To the west, Kazakhstan and...