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Internet

Over Half of People in Kyrgyzstan Use Russian Information Sources – New Survey

The Russian Eurasian Center for Sociology and Analytics has conducted a survey examining which information sources are used by citizens of Kyrgyzstan. The study involved face-to-face interviews with 1,900 residents aged over 18. The survey found that 52% of respondents use Russian or Russian-language information sources. One third use Kyrgyz and Russian or Russian-language sources equally, while 43% use Kyrgyz sources more often. Young people were identified as the main audience consuming information in Russian. The primary sources of information for residents of Kyrgyzstan are public pages and groups on social media (63%). YouTube ranks second (47%). Respondents also cited conversations with friends (41%) and group chats on WhatsApp, Viber, and other messaging platforms (37%) as common sources of news and information. For 40%, television remains a relevant source. Only 10% mentioned Telegram channels. Among men, the most popular sources of information are YouTube, television, and radio, while women tend to use social media more frequently. The main social media and online platforms used regularly (at least three to four times a week) are YouTube (71%) and Instagram (67%), followed by Facebook (23%) and TikTok (22%). Russian social networks such as VKontakte (5%) and Odnoklassniki are less popular. Seven percent of respondents said they do not use social media or online platforms at all. YouTube is the most popular platform across almost all age groups up to 64 years old. Online audiences show the greatest interest in political (48%) and entertainment (45%) content. Other areas of significant interest include leisure programmes (38%), sports (37%), social issues (34%), and economic news (33%). Political news is more likely to attract residents of the country’s north (55%) than those in the south (44%). Russian remains widely spoken in Kyrgyzstan, particularly in the north and in the capital, Bishkek. Under the Constitution, Russian has official status, while Kyrgyz is the state language.

Internet disruptions

Internet Outages Reported Across Turkmenistan Since February

Since February, widespread internet disruptions across Turkmenistan have affected both business operations and daily life. According to reports by the independent outlet turkmen.news, the issue is not limited to routine website blocking but involves broader interference with data transmission. Sources cited by the outlet suggest that a mechanism described as “network degradation” is being used. This reportedly involves the intentional reduction of data transfer reliability rather than simply restricting access to specific online resources. The Cybersecurity Agency and the telecommunications company Ykjam Aragatnaşyk have been mentioned in this context. According to these accounts, a significant share of internet traffic may fail to reach its destination. Estimates cited by sources indicate that packet loss could range from 30% to as much as 70% in some cases. “If, instead of the advertised 6 Mbps, subscribers simply experienced a reduction in speed, the inconvenience might be manageable. However, when data packets are lost during transmission, connectivity becomes unstable, making effective internet use extremely difficult,” one source told the outlet. In practice, users report that web pages often fail to load fully or display error messages, requiring multiple refresh attempts. Tasks that previously took seconds can now take minutes or longer. Services that depend on stable connections, including video conferencing platforms such as Zoom, are reportedly among the most affected. Although the reported restrictions are said to target external internet traffic, their impact has also been felt within domestic infrastructure. On March 10, banking services across the country were reportedly disrupted, with users experiencing difficulties withdrawing cash or making card payments. Communication has also been affected. Users report delays in sending messages through mobile applications, while some areas have experienced disruptions to mobile services. Businesses are said to be incurring additional costs, communication with foreign partners has become more difficult, online classes have been canceled, and access to essential online resources has been limited.

Internet

Global Internet Freedom Rankings: Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan Far Ahead of Eurasian Neighbors

The 2026 Global Internet Freedom Rankings, published this week by the research agency Cloudwards, have revealed that the five countries of Central Asia have significantly less internet censorship than all of their Eurasian neighbors. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan’s online environments emerge as particularly encouraging cases. Cloudwards defines internet censorship as the banning or restricting of online content or services, such as social media platforms, VPN apps, and certain political or religious messaging. It also covers the more welcome deletion of harmful content. Censorship can be done by governments, or initiated by a country’s internet service providers and other businesses. The internet freedom rankings do not measure state censorship per se. Cloudwards' research scored 171 countries on a scale of 0-100, rating their overall levels of internet censorship using five key criteria: torrenting availability; adult content accessibility; social media platforms; access to varied political and religious content; and VPN regulations. Eleven nations returned the highest score of 92, including New Zealand, Belgium and Timor Leste. While North Korea scored 0, the next four worst countries for internet censorship – each scoring just 4 – all border Central Asia: China, Pakistan, Iran and Russia. Tajikistan’s score of 56, while only middling in the global context, means that its internet is subject to significantly less interference than almost anywhere in the wider Eurasia region. The Times of Central Asia reported last year that the country has repealed a law that allowed citizens to be prosecuted for ‘liking’ posts on social media that are critical of the government. The only Eurasian country to rival Tajikistan is its northern neighbor Kyrgyzstan, which has the second freest internet in Central Asia, scoring 52 in Cloudwards' ranking. For comparison, 52 is also the overall score given to the United Kingdom and Brazil. Kazakhstan scored 36 – above Singapore and South Korea, which both received a mark of 32. Uzbekistan scored 24. While Turkmenistan’s mark of 16 places it firmly among the world’s worst countries for internet censorship, this is nonetheless higher than countries including India and Turkey (both 12). Turkmen netizens still experience fewer restrictions than internet users in the aforementioned China, Pakistan, Iran and Russia. The authors of the Cloudwards report, British editors Kit Copson and Sandra Pattison, commented: "The reasons behind online censorship range from protecting people targeted by hate speech to quelling political dissent. In especially restrictive locations, censorship and internet monitoring are tools commonly to control narratives." They added: "The consequences for breaching government-imposed censorship laws depend on the country. They could include fines or even arrest or imprisonment for those in highly restrictive locations."

Internet

Kazakhstan Forecasts Twofold Increase in Internet Traffic Consumption

Kazakhstan is set to double its internet traffic consumption by the end of 2025 compared to the previous year, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev announced during a government meeting. The minister also noted that full population coverage with internet services is not expected until 2027, meaning continued growth in demand is likely. “It is important to note the significant growth in internet traffic consumption this year: we expect it to be twice as high as last year,” Madiyev said. In 2024, total internet traffic in Kazakhstan reached 2.14 million terabytes, with the average subscriber using approximately 22.4 GB per month, 40% above the global average of 16 GB. Madiyev attributed this growth to substantial investment in digital infrastructure. Over the past three years, more than $1.8 billion has been invested in the development of internet and mobile communication services. Kazakhstan now boasts an average internet speed of 94 Mbps, with 20 million mobile internet users and 3.7 million fixed-line subscribers. “By the end of 2027, we plan to provide 100% internet coverage for the population, and internet speeds will exceed 100 megabits per second,” the minister stated. He added that 90% of rural settlements will be connected to fiber-optic communication lines by that time, significantly improving regional connectivity. According to the Kazakh government, of the country’s 6,179 settlements, 119 cities and 4,906 villages currently have access to communications infrastructure. Of these, 2,724 are connected via 3G and 2,182 via 4G. Fixed internet access is available in 1,902 villages through ADSL and in 2,654 villages via fiber-optic networks. Plans are in place to connect an additional 3,000 villages to high-speed internet by 2027. In parallel, 504 remote settlements will receive satellite internet access. Of these, 176 are already connected via KazSat, and a further 328 are expected to be connected through OneWeb by the end of 2025. In June 2025, Kazakhstan signed an agreement with Starlink, which officially began operating in the country on August 13. Starlink’s satellite internet is now used in more than 1,700 rural schools. Overall, 84% of the country’s villages are covered by mobile networks, according to ministry data. Alexander Babichev, Chairman of the Board at Mobile Telecom Service LLP (MTS), stated that 3G technology will be fully phased out in all major cities by the end of 2025, replaced by 4G. In 2026, Kazakhstan is expected to introduce VoWiFi technology nationwide, allowing voice calls over any available Wi-Fi network. “We have successfully conducted a pilot within the company, and next year the technology will become widely available,” said Evgeny Nastradin, Executive Director of Kar-Tel. In parallel, Kazakhstan is developing a national Wi-Fi operator to provide secure internet access across social and transport infrastructure. In the first phase, 400 locations in 10 cities will be covered. By 2027, that figure is expected to grow to 20,000. This infrastructure will support the rollout of digital services and AI-based solutions. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the European Union has launched a...

Internet

Kazakhstan Trials Ultra-Fast 10G Internet

Kazakhstan has launched a pilot project to test wired internet speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s in its capital, Astana. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernize the country's digital infrastructure and improve access to high-performance internet services. First Technology Trial The pilot project is being implemented under a memorandum of cooperation between Huawei Technologies Kazakhstan and Astana Innovations JSC. During a recent presentation, participants were introduced to a new generation of networking equipment, including optical terminals, OLT systems, and Wi-Fi 7. In a designated demo zone, guests tested the service and confirmed its stability and high performance. Speed measurements during the trial showed data transfer rates reaching up to 9,490 Mbps, sufficient for uninterrupted use of bandwidth-intensive applications such as 8K video streaming and cloud gaming. Stakeholder Perspectives Gizat Amyrgaly, Chairman of the Board at Astana Innovations JSC, underscored the significance of the rollout: "The launch of 10G in Astana is a strategic step toward building a next-generation digital infrastructure. It is important for us that innovations quickly transition from testing to practical use, delivering tangible benefits to residents and businesses." Sun Yaxiu, CEO of Huawei Technologies Kazakhstan, also highlighted the project’s national relevance: “We are proud that Huawei's 10G PON technology is being introduced for the first time in an open, public project. Ultra-high-speed wired internet will open up new possibilities for the digital transformation of the urban environment, as well as for business, education, and healthcare.” Rauan Kabdrakhimov, CEO of Enterprise CO Beeline, stated the company’s intention to move swiftly from pilot testing to real-world deployment: “Our priority as a digital operator is to apply cutting-edge technology to deliver the best customer experience. We are pleased to be a technology partner in this important initiative.” What Is 10G PON? 10G PON refers to the next generation of wired broadband capable of speeds up to 10 gigabits per second. Unlike mobile technologies such as 4G or 5G, where the number represents a generational standard, the "10" in 10G PON denotes actual data speed. The idea for the pilot network was first discussed in June 2025 during the China-Central Asia Forum. At that time, the Astana City Administration and Huawei signed a cooperation agreement supporting the future deployment of 50G PON and other advanced telecom solutions in the capital. Experts say the successful trial of this technology could pave the way for the widespread introduction of advanced digital services throughout Kazakhstan.

Internet

Splitting the Flow: How Central Asia Can Bypass Russia in Internet Connectivity

In today’s world, reliable mobile communications and internet access are indispensable, and Central Asia is no exception. Digital infrastructure has become a core component of development across the region. Yet, the architecture of internet connectivity in Central Asia has been shaped not only by global technological progress but also by the geopolitical upheavals of the early 2020s, a decade already recognized as historically transformative. Recent developments have renewed focus on this issue. On August 13, Kazakhstan officially joined over 100 countries utilizing Starlink’s satellite internet services, following a June 12, 2025, agreement that confirmed SpaceX's compliance with national laws. The Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development emphasized that Starlink offers stable connectivity “even in the most remote and inaccessible areas,” expanding access to digital services for underserved populations. While Starlink’s rates are higher than local norms, 23,000 KZT ($42.50) a month for home users and 26,000 KZT ($48) for mobile users, the launch signals a broader shift in Kazakhstan’s internet policy. For decades, the country maintained strict control over online access. As late as 2019, the authorities blocked social networks during live streams by exiled oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov. The 2020 pandemic further exposed infrastructure gaps, with students in remote areas forced to climb rooftops and trees for mobile signals. These stark images, along with a gradual political thaw, likely spurred the momentum for reform. Another catalyst is the war in Ukraine. A recent report by the Internet Society highlights Kazakhstan’s efforts to reduce reliance on Russian internet infrastructure and enhance regional digital resilience. Central Asia’s landlocked geography means it depends heavily on terrestrial fiber optic cables connected to countries with undersea landing stations. Approximately 95% of Kazakhstan’s international internet traffic flows through Russia, posing strategic vulnerabilities amid heightened geopolitical tensions. To address this, Kazakhstan is investing in low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems and exploring alternative terrestrial fiber routes, including a long-discussed cable under the Caspian Sea connecting to Europe. As of January 2024, Kazakhstan had 18.2 million internet users, 92.3% of the population, with average fixed-line speeds of 53.86 Mbps, ranking 94th globally, according to Ookla’s Speedtest Index. Uzbekistan Follows Suit Uzbekistan, the region’s second-largest economy, is also seeking to diversify its digital dependencies. In March 2025, Tashkent signed agreements with the European Union on a satellite internet project and the “Connectivity for Central Asia” program, both aimed at extending access to remote communities and modernizing digital infrastructure. These initiatives are part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy. “By investing in digital connectivity, we are bridging gaps, creating opportunities, and ensuring that Central Asia has access to the benefits of the digital economy,” said European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen. As of early 2024, Uzbekistan had 34.2 million mobile subscribers and 29.5 million internet users, an 83.3% penetration rate. Basic fixed-line internet packages cost 55,000 UZS ($4.40) per month for 6 Mbps daytime speeds; premium plans offer 50 Mbps for about $8. As reported by The Times of Central Asia, Starlink is expected to launch in Uzbekistan in 2026....