Technology - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 71

Starlink internet

Kazakhstan to Provide Satellite Internet to Neighboring Countries via Starlink Stations

Kazakhstan plans to use Starlink satellite communication ground stations located on its territory to transmit internet traffic to neighboring countries. The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Zhaslan Madiev. According to Madiev, the development of digital infrastructure is intended to meet domestic demand while also strengthening Kazakhstan’s position as a regional hub for digital connectivity. Internet traffic will be routed through Starlink gateway stations located in the country. He stated that satellite internet delivered via Kazakhstani ground stations is expected to become available to Tajikistan as early as 2026. In the future, the system may also be extended to Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. At the same time, he noted that Uzbekistan has proposed off-take contracts related to a trans-Caspian fiber-optic communication line. The deployment of Starlink infrastructure in Kazakhstan was formalized in a separate agreement between the country’s authorities and representatives of Starlink last summer. In parallel, the government is expanding terrestrial digital infrastructure. According to the ministry, an additional 1,900 villages will gain access to fiber-optic communication lines this year. In 2027, coverage is expected to exceed 90% of rural settlements. Authorities also plan to ensure communication coverage along all national highways, at border checkpoints, and on the main passenger routes operated by Kazakhstan Temir Zholy. Internet access is also set to become available on board the national airline for the first time.

Technology

ArtSkin: Prosthetics with a Sense of Touch from Kyrgyzstan

The Kyrgyz startup ecosystem is still in its nascent stages and can’t boast an endless number of founders pursuing their dreams. But those focused on building hardware startups, which is generally significantly more challenging, are even a rarer breed. Despite all of that, there is an ambitious attempt to build artificial skin for prosthetics. Meet ArtSkin. Not like a human hand “Since childhood, I was mad about science and tech, and the first big thing that I made was a prototype of the first airplane by the Wright brothers. I dropped it from the second floor, and it was crushed after flying four meters. Later, when I was twelve, I saw a TV program about robot battles, and it was crazy! Since then, I have wanted to be able to make any kind of robots, and my dream has come true,” says Iliias Dzheentaev’s biography on LinkedIn. Dzheentaev is the CEO and Founder of ArtSkin. ArtSkin is a hardware startup from Kyrgyzstan that develops artificial skin for prosthetic limbs. It was launched by Dzheentaev in 2024. Before that, he spent three years studying how human skin, the nervous system, and receptors work to understand how to design a device allowing proper touch sensations. The process was time-consuming and challenging due to the lack of relevant information. “My initial prototype was a robotic arm manipulator. I encountered a challenge with grasping flexible objects – figuring out how to make the robot recognize when its claw had squeezed tightly enough to hold the object securely. To solve this, I developed a mechanism that overcomes the resistance of different materials, enabling the robot to firmly grasp objects of various shapes, textures, and densities. Although the mechanism was simple, it made me realize how important this problem is for robotics. This insight then led me to thinking about people who use prosthetics and whether they actually feel anything when wearing them”, Dzheentaev tells The Times of Central Asia. He was not happy with the contemporary prosthetic solutions – basic body-powered mechanical prosthetics rely on physical motions, and more advanced bionic prosthetics translate electrical signals generated by muscle activity into movements, both of which lack feedback. And without the latter, control is incomplete, while with a human hand, one can easily understand its position as well as feel touch and pressure. With this in mind, Dzheentaev built his prototype with a single sensor to test the device on himself. First steps Things got serious when Dzheentaev visited the High Technology Park of the Kyrgyz Republic (HTP), where he was inspired by other founders pitching and raising funds for their startups. At the time, unfamiliar with this environment, Dzheentaev was using his salary to buy electronic components, order materials, and do designs. Not long after, Dzheentaev took part in HTP’s two programs: Dive into Silicon Valley and Unicorn from KG. The finalists for the first one were selected in February 2024. Dive into Silicon Valley in an entry-level incubation program, which sends founders to spend two...

smart city

Astana Leads 2024 Smart City Rankings in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry (MDIIA) has released its latest evaluation of local governments' efforts to implement Smart City technologies. For 2024, the capital city, Astana, secured the top position. A Smart City integrates multiple information and communication technologies (ICT) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to manage urban assets, ranging from residential and commercial properties to transportation and public infrastructure. The core objective is to enhance the quality of life for residents through greater efficiency, safety, and connectivity. Kazakhstan began implementing its Smart City strategy in 2019, introducing a standardized benchmark for assessing the adoption of smart technologies by local authorities. The first national Smart City ranking, published in 2020, placed Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis, firmly at the top. In subsequent years, Almaty and Astana alternated between first and second place. In 2023, however, Astana emerged as the clear leader. According to the MDIIA, alongside Astana, the cities of Almaty, Karaganda (Central Kazakhstan), Kostanay (northern Kazakhstan), and Ust-Kamenogorsk (eastern Kazakhstan) rounded out the top five for their effective implementation of urban digital technologies. “These cities have widely adopted systems for monitoring school performance, electronic fare collection, and real-time tracking of public transport,” the ministry reported. “Online registration for outpatient clinics is in place, and unified 109 contact centers handle public inquiries and complaints. The number of surveillance cameras has also increased, improving public safety.” As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakh authorities are also planning to construct a new city, Alatau, near Almaty. The project is being designed from the ground up to meet all the criteria of a Smart City.

e-Commerce

Kyrgyzstan Prepares for Rapid Growth in E-Commerce

Speaking at the 11th Bishkek International Finance Forum (BIFF 2025), Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev stated that Kyrgyzstan is open to cooperation in digital finance, welcomes investment in the banking sector, and seeks to exchange expertise with international partners. Kasymaliyev emphasized that digital transformation is integral to the global sustainable development agenda and that Kyrgyzstan is steadily implementing digital solutions to build a modern, trust-based financial ecosystem. “Today, we stand at the threshold of a new digital era, where data processing technologies are transforming not only the financial system but also the foundations of public administration and socio-economic development. That is why digitalization is a strategic priority of the Kyrgyz Republic’s state policy,” said the head of the Cabinet. Since 2023, Kyrgyzstan has actively promoted a cashless payment system using QR codes integrated with bank cards, e-wallets, and mobile applications. QR code payments have become routine for many citizens. The government is also developing digital platforms to support small and medium-sized businesses and expanding infrastructure for fintech startups. Kasymaliyev noted that the introduction of the digital som will mark a key milestone in the country's digital transformation. “After President Sadyr Japarov signed the law introducing the digital som, the implementation of this strategic initiative began. It will affect virtually all sectors of the economy and represents a significant step in developing the national digital economy,” he said. Banking sector representatives stressed that forums like BIFF are essential not only for advancing electronic finance but also for addressing cybersecurity challenges. The forum has emerged as a platform for discussing innovative strategies to combat digital fraud. Anna Kulashova of the Russian cybersecurity company, Kaspersky Lab, highlighted that the widespread adoption of digital financial technologies also increases exposure to cyber threats. “We are ready to share our knowledge and experience in the field of cybersecurity. We are open to developing cooperation in this area,” she said. Visa representatives praised Kyrgyzstan’s pace of digitalization. According to Visa’s Evgeny Lesnyak, the country is frequently used as a testbed for innovative financial solutions. “In many countries, paying for public transport with contactless methods is still difficult. In Kyrgyzstan, this service has been available for four years via QR codes using Visa cards. That’s rare even in developed markets. We see Kyrgyzstan as a platform for testing innovations. Your solutions are exportable and help launch new services in other countries,” he said. Aibek Kurenkeev, President of the E-Commerce Association and moderator of the forum, told The Times of Central Asia that Kyrgyzstan has gained valuable experience in modernizing its financial system. However, he stressed that rapid technological development requires greater openness and regional knowledge exchange. “We heard engaging presentations on the stock market, Kyrgyzstan’s entry into international capital markets, protection against cyber threats, new payment solutions, and mechanisms such as the self-prohibition system for issuing loans. The forum brought together diverse experts, and I believe we’ve laid a solid foundation for a sustainable, transparent, and inclusive digital future,” he said. Kurenkeev noted that fintech is one of Kyrgyzstan’s...

Technology

Kazakhstan and China Launch Chip Manufacturing Project in Semey

Construction has commenced on a high-tech chip and electronics manufacturing plant in the Ondiris industrial zone of Semey, the administrative center of Kazakhstan’s Abai region. The project is being developed by the joint Kazakh-Chinese venture, Suto Kazakhstan. The initiative was formally presented at the Big Altai international subregional conference held in Altai, located in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. During the forum, 15 memoranda of cooperation were signed between the Abai region and Chinese investors, amounting to a total of $1.5 billion. $50 Million Investment in High-Tech Infrastructure The Semey plant, with an investment of $50 million, will be developed in three stages from 2025 to 2028. Once completed, the facility will manufacture microchips, microcircuits, optoelectronic modules, intelligent host controllers, and electronic displays. The products will be supplied to both domestic and international markets. “A modern microchip manufacturing plant labeled ‘Made in Kazakhstan’ will appear in Semey. We have been allocated a 20-hectare site. In the first stage, we will build the main building and production facilities. If we manage to complete construction within 90 days, we will immediately launch the first line,” said Suto Kazakhstan founder Ernur Bolatuly. “Our main goal is to establish the production of chips that have never before been manufactured in Kazakhstan only assembled.” Broader Context of Technological Expansion The project is part of a broader effort by Kazakhstan to position itself as a technological hub in Central Asia. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, in May 2025, the country received the region’s most powerful supercomputer, further demonstrating its ambitions in high-performance computing and digital infrastructure.

Start-ups

Kyrgyz Startup Yessa Helping Women to Reclaim Pleasure

When Begaiym Zamirbek left her job at the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR), where everything was stable and predictable, she dove into the significantly riskier world of startups with her new venture, Yessa. That’s how her path of entrepreneurship began, which led her to Vietnam. Yessa supplies audio erotic entertainment for women, like companies including Quinn and Femtasy. Both boast a vast audience and have raised over $3 Million in investments. Quinn is based in the U.S., and its European counterpart, Femtasy, operates out of Berlin. Neither are available in languages other than English, French, and Deutsch, however. But Yessa is trying to fix that by making audio erotica for women available in other languages. My previous partner “did things in bed that I agreed to unconditionally. I didn't even know I had a choice,” Zamirbek told TCA. “I came out of that relationship traumatized and didn't realize, but after the breakup, any thought of sex made me feel disgusted. I accidentally came across an audio where the men were caring, tender and asked for my consent for literally everything. I thought that if such audios exist, then there must be such partners in reality. And I was not mistaken. I regretted that all such content was in English, and then I thought that Russian-speaking women also need such things.”Apart from her full-time job at IWPR, Zamirbek is a seasoned podcast host. Her podcast, Second Shift, which she has been co-hosting for five years, was the first feminist podcast in Kyrgyzstan and quickly became one of the most popular ones. That experience set her on the path toward the launch of her audio company. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zamirbek spent a lot of time at home listening to erotica in English, which piqued her interest in exploring her desires and going on dates. In 2024, inspired by TikTok, where more and more women were openly discussing the intimate details of their relationships, she began implementing her startup idea. After seeking advice from a venture capital professional and completing the Y Combinator’s Startup School, Zamirbek started looking for a tech co-founder. “We met at the March 8 march for women's rights in Bishkek. Anna Karamurzina came up to say ‘hello’ because she knew of me. She had worked in IT for over twelve years, and I came to her with an offer to build a startup just when she needed a job. Since August 2024, we’ve been the co-founders of the Yessa app.” The ex-IWPR Program Manager for Central Asia began her journey in the startup ecosystem by participating in the Startup Nation hackathon as the Co-Founder of Yessa in September 2024, where she was awarded a special prize as the strongest startups chosen from over 40 teams. Zamirbek soon realized that she needed resources and expertise to scale Yessa and followed the path of one of the Kyrgyz founders of Antler, one of the leading global accelerators backing early-stage companies with offices worldwide. With the help of several...