Starlink - The Times Of Central Asia

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Starlink

Starlink Satellite Internet Now Available in Tajikistan

Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, has officially launched in Tajikistan, the company announced on February 5. “Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency internet is now available in Tajikistan,” the company posted on X. The rollout expands Starlink’s coverage in Central Asia, a region where mountainous terrain and remote settlements have long made stable internet access difficult. Starlink is operated by Starlink Services LLC, a global telecommunications provider and wholly owned subsidiary of the U.S. aerospace company SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk. The service operates via a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, delivering broadband internet to areas underserved by traditional infrastructure. It is now active in approximately 130 countries and territories worldwide. The expansion into Tajikistan follows Starlink’s earlier rollout in Kazakhstan. On June 12, 2025, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry signed a formal agreement with Starlink, requiring the company to adhere to national telecommunications and information security regulations. This agreement paved the way for official use of the service by citizens, businesses, and government agencies, including in rural and hard-to-reach areas. In Kazakhstan, Starlink’s pricing is publicly listed on the company’s website. The most basic home internet plan starts at 23,000 tenge (around $46) per month with speed limitations. Unlimited plans begin at 31,000 tenge (approximately $62), while mobile and travel packages are available at higher price points. Starlink also plans to begin operations in Uzbekistan in 2026, although service has not yet launched there.

Starlink

From the Steppe to Space: Kazakhstan Tests First Direct-to-Cell Phone Call

In a remote part of Kazakhstan, a standard 4G smartphone has made Central Asia’s first satellite-linked phone call, thanks to a field test by Beeline Kazakhstan and SpaceX’s Starlink network. The trial successfully routed a WhatsApp voice call and text messages through Starlink Direct-to-Cell satellites, demonstrating that ordinary phones can stay connected even where traditional mobile coverage ends. The demonstration was carried out in Kazakhstan’s Akmolinskaya region and confirmed the interoperability between Starlink’s satellites and Beeline’s terrestrial network. During the test, Beeline Kazakhstan CEO Evgeniy Nastradin and Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Zhaslan Madiyev placed a WhatsApp audio call via Starlink to VEON Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu using a regular smartphone and SIM card. They also exchanged SMS and WhatsApp messages, effectively merging satellite links with the country’s mobile infrastructure for the first time. Kazakhstan has vast stretches of steppe and mountains where cell towers are sparse. Officials involved in the project say satellite-enabled connectivity offers a vital new layer of coverage for these remote regions. “Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell satellites make it possible to stay connected in places where traditional infrastructure is unavailable: in the mountains, the steppe, forests, and across long distances,” Madiyev noted, calling the technology “more than just a convenience – it is an important safety measure [that will ensure people] can stay connected in any part of the country.” Madiyev added that the ability to send a message from a dead zone without any special equipment “has the potential to save lives” in emergencies. Beeline Kazakhstan’s leadership similarly emphasized the significance of the milestone. By blending Starlink’s space-based relays with Beeline’s ground towers, customers will be able to stay connected anywhere in Kazakhstan. The initiative has government support and is backed by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development as part of a push to improve nationwide connectivity. Starlink Direct-to-Cell is a new capability of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet constellation that effectively turns satellites into cell towers in space. The satellites carry special cellular antennas (eNodeB modems) and link with ground networks via laser backhaul, allowing a phone to connect to the satellite as if roaming on a normal network. Crucially, this works with existing phones without requiring any new hardware or apps. The technology aims to eliminate mobile dead zones, as over 50% of the world’s land area still lacks cellular coverage. The Kazakhstan trial is part of a broader wave of satellite-cellular convergence. In November, Ukraine became the first country in Europe to launch Starlink’s direct-to-phone service, with VEON’s subsidiary Kyivstar initially offering satellite-powered text messaging to keep people connected during wartime blackouts and disaster situations. Voice calling and data services are expected to follow next year, underscoring the technology’s value for resilience when traditional infrastructure is disrupted. Following this week’s successful test, Beeline Kazakhstan plans to roll out Starlink Direct-to-Cell connectivity for its own customers, beginning with SMS text services in 2026, pending regulatory approval. Data connectivity would come next, expanding to full-service coverage in phases. Beeline serves over eleven million mobile subscribers in...

Starlink

Starlink Officially Launches in Kazakhstan

In a landmark step toward bridging Kazakhstan’s digital divide, SpaceX’s satellite internet service Starlink has officially begun operations in the country. As of today, residents and organizations across Kazakhstan can legitimately purchase and activate Starlink satellite terminals to access high-speed internet — even in the most remote regions. From Pilot to Public Rollout Kazakhstan's engagement with Starlink began as early as late 2023, when the government deployed the system in a pilot phase to connect rural schools with fast broadband service. By mid‑2024, over 1,700 schools were brought online under the “Accessible Internet” national program. On June 12, 2025, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry signed a formal agreement with Starlink, committing the company to fully comply with Kazakhstan’s information security and telecommunications laws. The agreement paved the way for the official rollout to citizens, entities, and government bodies. Why This Matters Kazakhstan's vast geography and dispersed settlement patterns have long challenged conventional broadband expansion. Fiber optics and cell towers reach most urban areas - but remote pastures, mountain villages, and certain infrastructure sites remain underconnected or entirely offline. Starlink's low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation provides a modern solution: delivering high-speed, low-latency internet without reliance on terrestrial infrastructure. This opens avenues not only for education and healthcare in rural schools and clinics, but also for mobile services, infrastructure projects, and remote industrial operations. Official Reactions In June, Minister Zhaslan Madiyev highlighted the significance of this milestone: “Until today, Starlink operated in Kazakhstan in pilot mode, providing internet only in schools. Now, finally, we have reached an agreement: the company agreed to comply with all the requirements of our legislation … our citizens will be able to officially and legally connect to satellite internet.” On Starlink’s official X account, the company announced: “Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency internet is now available in Kazakhstan!” The deployment aligns with President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev’s national “Accessible Internet” initiative, aiming to ensure that no region is left behind in digital connectivity.

Telecommunications

Kazakhstan’s Telecommunications Market Set to Slow in Coming Years

Kazakhstan’s telecommunications market is projected to experience a slowdown in the coming years, with average annual growth expected to hover around 6% for 2025-2027, nearly half the rate seen over the past two years. According to a joint study by Russian firm Nexign and the TelecomDaily agency, the sector grew by 11% in 2024, reaching $2.4 billion, the highest figure in three years. However, analysts attribute this recent surge not to organic market expansion, but to a sharp rise in communication tariffs, which increased by an average of 20%. The price hikes were largely driven by infrastructure modernization costs, the rollout of 5G networks, and increased mobile data usage. Looking ahead, sector growth is expected to be fueled by expanding the customer base, rising service consumption, and the development of digital offerings. Mobile communications accounted for 17% of telecom revenues in 2024, while internet access comprised a dominant 53%. In the past two years, mobile data consumption in Kazakhstan has doubled, placing the country among the global top ten for mobile internet usage per capita. As of March 2025, Kazakhstan had 26 million active SIM cards, more than the total population of approximately 20 million, indicating widespread use of multiple connections. Over 18 million people now have access to mobile internet, and another 3.2 million are connected to fixed broadband. The only segment in decline is fixed-line telephony, which saw a 10% drop in subscribers over the past year, falling to 2.3 million. The study notes that telecom operators will concentrate on expanding 5G coverage, enhancing service quality, and deploying fixed wireless access (FWA) technologies, seen as a more affordable alternative to fiber-optic infrastructure in rural areas. Kazakhstan is also advancing in satellite communications. In 2024, 750 rural schools were connected to the internet via Starlink, while OneWeb launched a ground control center in the country. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Starlink’s commercial rollout in Kazakhstan is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025. The sector could also benefit from the integration of artificial intelligence in public services and various industries, offering potential new avenues for growth. Nonetheless, key challenges remain for the 2025-2027 period. These include the high costs of extending network coverage to remote areas, escalating prices for imported telecom equipment amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, and intensifying competition among major players. The primary operators in Kazakhstan’s telecom market include Kazakhtelecom JSC (and its subsidiary Kcell JSC), Beeline Kazakhstan (Kar-Tel LLP), Tele2/Altel (Mobile Telecom Service LLP), Transtelecom JSC, Alma TV (AlmaTel Kazakhstan JSC), and Jusan Mobile JSC (KazTransCom).

Digital Development

The Battle for Control Over Central Asia’s Digital Future

Central Asia is digitalizing quickly. Governments across the region have invested in smart cities, 5G, and AI-powered platforms. Kazakhstan ranks 24th in the world in global e-government indexes, and in Tashkent and Bishkek, young, tech-savvy populations are pushing for innovation. But such progress is not without risks. A new report from the German Marshall Fund (GMF), a Washington-based think tank, outlines how Central Asia is becoming ever more reliant on Chinese and Russian technology. These two countries, the report argues, are using digital tools not just to supply infrastructure but to shape how governments in the region manage data, surveillance, and speech. Beijing and Moscow’s tech exports act as snares, tying customers into their own economies. “Central Asian governments are aware of these challenges,” Dylan Welch, the author of the report and a China analyst at the GMF, told The Times of Central Asia. But he notes that it can be difficult to convince policymakers to prioritize the dangers of such overexposure. “For the national leaders, their imperative is to deliver economic growth because they have these young, dynamic populations that need jobs… if they don't deliver on that, then they're in for a long period of instability at home,” he said. This makes Chinese and Russian offers to develop their digital industries extremely tempting. An Entrenched Presence The report coincides with a flurry of Russian and Chinese engagement in the region. Over the weekend, Kazakhstan announced that between them, Beijing and Moscow will be responsible for delivering a new generation of nuclear reactors to the country, currently leaving French and Korean alternatives out in the cold. Then came this week’s visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Astana for a summit with the five Central Asian leaders. On the digital front, one notable announcement from this summit included a plan to develop an Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Center in Kyrgyzstan. China has used the term “Digital Silk Road” to describe its investments in Central Asia, and it has built much of the physical infrastructure behind the region’s digitization drive. For its part, Russia has exported its software, legal models and surveillance practices. Taken together, these systems are helping local governments tighten control over digital life. “This strategic integration makes it more difficult for regional states to diversify in the future, even though many continue to pursue multi-vector foreign policies aimed at balancing global partnerships,” Yunis Sharifli, Non-Resident Fellow at the China-Global South Project, told TCA. Where the Vulnerabilities Lie The report uses a “technology stack” framework to explain the problem. This framework looks at five layers: network infrastructure, data storage, consumer devices, digital platforms, and government policies. Across these layers, it argues, Central Asia is exposed to Chinese and Russian influence. Take Kazakhstan. It may be the most advanced digital economy in the region, but most of its internet traffic still passes through Russia. Telecom firms across the region are also required to install a Russian-made surveillance technology known as SORM (System for Operative Investigative Activities), which can intercept internet...

internet access

Starlink Set to Launch Internet Services Nationwide in Kazakhstan

Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, will officially begin offering satellite internet services in Kazakhstan in the third quarter of 2025. The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan announced that an agreement has been signed with Starlink, ensuring compliance with national laws on information security and telecommunications. Expanding Internet Access to Remote Areas With this agreement, Kazakhstani users can now legally purchase and connect Starlink satellite terminals. Until now, the service had operated only in pilot mode, providing internet access exclusively to schools. “Starlink was not previously available to the public. Now, after reaching this agreement, the company has committed to fully comply with our legislation on information security and communications,” said Digital Development Minister Jaslan Madiev. The initiative is part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s directive under the national project Accessible Internet, which aims to close the digital divide. The project focuses on underserved areas, such as mountain villages, remote pastures, schools, and healthcare facilities, where laying fiber-optic infrastructure is logistically or economically impractical. Starlink’s technology uses a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, positioned approximately 550 kilometers above the Earth, to deliver high-speed broadband with low latency, even in rural and hard-to-reach locations. Background: A Long Road to Starlink Kazakhstan’s engagement with Starlink began in 2023 when the government, frustrated by the lack of progress from domestic telecom operators, initiated direct negotiations with SpaceX. Then-Minister Bagdat Musin announced a partnership to provide internet connectivity to 2,000 rural schools.. “Lauren Dreyer and I informed the President that in schools where students only receive 4 megabits per second through outdated satellite dishes, we would bridge the gap within six months. Lauren Dreyer, Vice President of SpaceX and Elon Musk’s deputy, confirmed Starlink’s commitment,” Musin said at the Digital Bridge forum. By April 2024, 447 rural schools were connected via Starlink. By July, that number had risen to 1,729. Attempted Ban and Backlash Despite the rollout’s success, in December 2024, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry (MDDIAI) proposed banning Starlink and similar services. Citing Article 23 of the National Security Law, the ministry argued that Kazakhstan should prohibit telecommunications networks operated from outside the country. The draft regulation targeted four companies, Inmarsat, Iridium, Thuraya, and Starlink, and was published for public comment on the Open Regulations website. It immediately drew widespread criticism. In response to the backlash, the proposal was withdrawn for revision.