Kazakhstan, located in Central Asia, is the ninth-largest country in the world, with vast areas of sparsely populated land. Its population of around 19 million is concentrated in urban areas like Astana, the capital, and Almaty, the largest city. Kazakhstan's geographical expanse presents both opportunities and challenges for the technology and telecommunications sectors. Its significant mineral and energy resources, for example, have facilitated the development of the renewables sector, with solar and wind projects being initiated in recent years. However, connectivity in remote areas remains a major issue due to the country's vast size and dispersed population. The country has made significant strides in digitalisation, with a national programme rolled out to increase internet access and digital literacy. Nevertheless, the telecommunications and technology sectors are still developing, with potential for growth and improvement. The country's distinctive infrastructure solutions include the development of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), which aims to become a hub for fintech innovation in Central Asia.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 3 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
Beeline Kazakhstan is a telecommunications brand that operates in Kazakhstan. LLP "KaR-Tel" and LLP "2Day Telecom" became included in the group of companies VimpelCom in 2004. Since 2009, PJSC VimpelCom has been a subsidiary of VimpelCom Ltd., which was rebranded as Veon in 2017 and is headquartered in Amsterdam. In July 2008, Beeline became the first company to receive the official permission to provide cellular services in the GSM 900 and 1800 standard in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Kcell is a prominent telecommunications company based in Kazakhstan. Founded in 1998, it has played a significant role in the development and provision of mobile telecommunications services throughout the country. The company is a subsidiary of Kazakhtelecom, the national telecommunications operator in Kazakhstan. Ownership of Kcell Kazakhtelecom is shared, with Kazakhtelecom holding a majority stake in the business.
The company operated a mobile network called Altel until its merger with Tele2, to which Kazakhtelecom operates in joint venture with Tele2 Group. In February 2018 Kazakhtelecom...
Tele2 Kazakhstan is a telecommunications company that operated in Kazakhstan from 2005 to 2018. It was a subsidiary of Tele2 AB, a major mobile network operator headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2010, Tele2 AB acquired 51% of Mobile Telecom-Service LLP to serve as a base for the company's mobile services in Kazakhstan. Tele2 Kazakhstan was the smallest of three mobile operators in the country, serving approximately 4.3 million customers. In December 2018, Tele2 Kazakhstan ceased operations.