Telecommunications - The Times Of Central Asia

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Rural Internet

Kazakhstan Telecom Investment Tops $2.2 Billion, but Rural Fiber Gaps Persist

Investment in Kazakhstan’s telecommunications sector has exceeded $2.2 billion over the past three years. Yet as of October 2025, only 2,606 of the country’s 6,179 villages were connected to backbone fiber-optic networks. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev presented the investment figures at the 2026 Mobile World Congress in Doha. By the end of 2027, the government aims to make high-speed wired internet available in more than 90% of villages. An August 2026 government update said fiber-optic lines had been laid in just 12 villages under an agreement with Kazakhtelecom to bring high-speed internet to more than 3,000 villages. However, even the presence of a backbone network does not mean that every household has internet access. Connecting residents requires local distribution lines and additional equipment. In small and remote villages, building this infrastructure is expensive, while the number of potential subscribers is limited. With support from the World Bank, Kazakhstan is implementing a separate project to build the local networks needed to connect homes in 1,123 villages. Operators will be eligible for reimbursement of up to half their verified capital expenditures after completing the work. The project is intended to make connections available to more than 445,000 households, representing approximately 2.3 million people. The minimum target speed is 100 megabits per second. Where laying cables is too expensive, satellite connections offer another option. In September, Beeline Kazakhstan and Starlink Mobile launched a Direct to Cell service that allows compatible smartphones to exchange text messages and use certain online features via satellite. The technology is primarily intended for areas without terrestrial mobile coverage and is not yet a substitute for full broadband internet. According to the International Telecommunication Union, a basic fixed-broadband package in Kazakhstan cost the equivalent of 0.79% of monthly gross national income per capita in 2025, compared with a global median of 2.5%. For residents of remote villages, however, affordability also depends on equipment and connection costs, as well as whether a network is available. Kazakhstan is also developing international data transmission infrastructure. On October 15, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan inaugurated a submarine fiber-optic cable between Aktau and Sumgayit. The 380-kilometer line, with a planned capacity of more than 400 terabits per second, is intended to provide an additional data route between Asia and Europe through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye, offering an alternative to existing routes through Russia. Configuration work on the Trans-Caspian cable was due to continue through the end of 2026. Bagdat Mussin, chairman of Kazakhtelecom’s management board, said the project’s first practical benefits were not expected before early 2027.

Telecommunications

Tajikistan Internet Link to China Launched Through the Pamirs

Tajikistan has opened a direct internet route to China through the high-altitude Pamir Mountains. The new fiber-optic link, with an initial capacity of up to 1 terabit per second (Tbps), gives the country another connection to international communications networks and reduces its dependence on transit through neighboring countries. The connection, built by state-owned Tajiktelecom and China Mobile International, was officially launched on October 17. The route runs from Dushanbe through Khorog, Kulma, and Karasu to Beijing. The Tajik section stretches 1,010 kilometers, including 435 kilometers through the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. At Kulma Pass, more than 4,300 meters above sea level, the cable connects to China's network. In July 2026, Isfandiyor Sadullo, head of Tajikistan's Communications Service, said the international internet bandwidth available to the country had reached 500 gigabits per second (Gbps), double the level of the previous year. Plans call for increasing the new link's capacity tenfold. The connection always gives Tajiktelecom access to HKIX, a Hong Kong hub where international providers exchange internet traffic. This could give users and businesses in Tajikistan more direct access to overseas websites and services. Tajikistan also hopes the new connection will attract investment in data centers and cloud services, drawing on the country's hydropower resources. The launch comes just two days after Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan inaugurated a fiber-optic cable across the Caspian seabed. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the approximately 380-kilometer link connects Aktau and Sumgait, providing an alternative route between Central Asia and the South Caucasus that bypasses Russian networks.

Telecommunications

M360 Eurasia Mobile Industry Forum Set for Astana in 2027

M360 Eurasia, a regional mobile-industry forum organized by the GSM Association (GSMA), will be held in Astana in the fall of 2027. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development and the GSMA agreed to bring the event to the capital during AI & Digital Bridge 2026. The GSMA represents mobile operators and companies across the wider mobile ecosystem. It also organizes Mobile World Congress events and the regional M360 series. The forum will address artificial intelligence (AI) and connectivity, including access to digital services and the rules governing them. The memorandum was signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev and Laszlo Toth, the GSMA’s head of Europe and Central Asia. “For our country, hosting M360 Eurasia will serve as an authoritative platform to strengthen international cooperation, attract investment, and advance infrastructure, telecom, and AI initiatives across Central Asia and beyond,” Madiyev said in the announcement. The GSMA said its cooperation with Kazakhstan would include 5G infrastructure and AI tools in local languages. Kazakhstan is expanding its 5G networks and in September launched Starlink Mobile’s direct-to-cell service with Beeline Kazakhstan, allowing compatible smartphones to connect directly to satellites outside terrestrial mobile coverage. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are also building a fiber-optic link across the Caspian Sea intended to provide an additional data route between Asian and European networks. The previous two editions of M360 Eurasia were held in Uzbekistan in partnership with telecommunications group VEON. More than 50 speakers took part in the 2026 forum in Samarkand, which drew representatives from 250 companies in more than 40 countries and territories. Beeline Kazakhstan will serve as host sponsor for the 2027 event.

Internet Restrictions

A Signal from Uzbekistan: How Turkmen Border Villages Reach the Outside World

In Diýýar, a village in northern Turkmenistan close enough to catch Uzbekistan’s mobile signal, a foreign SIM card inserted into a small Wi-Fi router can turn a barely functioning 2G connection into usable home internet. In early July, police reportedly entered around ten households in the village, identified Uzbek-connected routers, and confiscated the SIM cards. Similar inspections have been under way across close to 60 settlements in Dashoguz Province, according to Radio Azatlyk, the Turkmen Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The campaign covers parts of Shabat and Görogly districts, including Kirov, Diýýar, Bedirkent, Aýlak, and Nyýazow, in areas where Uzbek mobile signals cross the border. The Internet Across the Border What the authorities are removing is more than a foreign phone number. Residents told Radio Azatlyk that Turkmen Telecom internet is either unavailable or extremely slow in several border villages. TMCell, the mobile brand operated by the state-owned Altyn Asyr network, often provides only 2G service, while home Wi-Fi is unavailable. Households able to obtain an Uzbek SIM card use networks such as Ucell and Uztelecom, placing the card in a router that supplies internet throughout the home. Residents said YouTube and Instagram become accessible through these connections, although TikTok and many foreign websites still require a VPN. One resident described the Uzbek service as “300 times” faster than the Turkmen alternative, a personal estimate rather than a measured comparison. The cards arrive through an informal chain of traders and other residents who regularly cross into Uzbekistan. A Dashoguz source said they sell for around 200 manats and that sellers also help buyers complete the registration. The arrangement depends on geography, personal contacts, and a signal strong enough to reach across the frontier. One local source said many people from Dashoguz work abroad, including in Russia, Poland, and Germany. For households with relatives overseas, a usable connection can provide a direct link beyond the village. It also opens independent news sites and social platforms that remain blocked or unreliable on Turkmen networks. Residents confronted by police sometimes say they use the internet only to pass the time, reportedly hoping to avoid a fine. A Signal Treated as Suspicion The reported consequences vary. Some first-time offenders receive a warning, particularly when they cannot afford a penalty. Others are threatened with fines of up to 50,000 manats or imprisonment. That amount is about $14,300 at Turkmenistan’s official exchange rate and roughly $2,500 using the widely reported informal rate. Residents said officers described the use of foreign telecommunications services as possible espionage on behalf of another country. The reports cite no court case or published provision under which simply possessing an Uzbek SIM card constitutes espionage. The threat itself, however, raises the stakes around an ordinary household connection. Police and security officers reportedly do not use specialist equipment to locate the routers. Local sources said they rely instead on informants in villages, schools, and local administrations. They allegedly gather information through schoolchildren as well. Residents who travel regularly to Uzbekistan, including small...

Telecommunications

U.S. Development Finance Corporation Signals Interest in Tele2 Upgrade in Kazakhstan

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has announced its interest in helping modernize Kazakhstan’s telecommunications infrastructure through a potential partnership with Qatar’s Power International Holding (PIH), which owns Mobile Telecom-Service LLP, operator of the Tele2/Altel brands. DFC Chief Executive Officer Ben Black and PIH President and Group CEO Ramez Al-Khayyat signed a letter of interest and financing proposal in Astana on June 16. The document outlines a proposed partnership to support Tele2’s transition to equipment supplied by “trusted vendors,” a move aimed at improving Kazakhstan’s digital security and supporting the rollout of 5G networks. According to DFC, the proposed investment would help build more secure telecommunications infrastructure for 5G connectivity and digital services. The corporation said it sees Kazakhstan as a key part of the Trans-Caspian Corridor and an important destination for investment from the United States in Central Asia. “This deal will be truly transformative, a game-changer for regional connectivity, and a major step toward building economic momentum in Kazakhstan,” Black said. The announcement follows the completion of the sale of Mobile Telecom-Service LLP, which operates under the Tele2/Altel brands, to PIH Communication LLC, a subsidiary of Power International Holding. According to Kazakhtelecom’s audited financial statements for 2025, cited by Kapital.kz, Kazakhtelecom received the second tranche of the deal, amounting to $25.415 million, on January 22, 2026. The first payment of $700 million was made by PIH Communication LLC on January 16, 2025, bringing the total paid so far to $725.415 million. The planned sale of Mobile Telecom-Service received political backing in February 2024, following talks between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Kazakhstan’s telecommunications sector is also attracting greater attention from the U.S. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Tokayev met with Black in Astana on June 15 to discuss prospects for expanding economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and the U.S. Tokayev described Black’s visit as a continuation of agreements reached during talks in Washington in November 2025 and as a sign of growing U.S. engagement in Central Asia.

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.