Kazakhstan Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 24 Mar 2025 Update History

Report Status: Current

Report Pages: 157

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Kazakhstan’s government presses MNOs to expand 5G services

Kazakhstan has one of the most developed telecommunications sectors in Central Asia. This is especially true of the mobile segment, where the country has the fastest average mobile data rate in the region. The competing MNOs have built extensive LTE networks: about 76% of Beeline’s mobile subscribers were on LTE as of the beginning of 2025, while the company’s LTE network provided 89% geographic coverage.

This widespread network coverage, as well as the development of 5G networks, has been encouraged by the government keen to see progress with the second stage of its Digital Kazakhstan program, by which most settlements across the country will be furnished with mobile internet connectivity. The government has pressed the MNOs to deliver at least 7,000 5G base stations each by the end of 2025. The more remote rural villages will be covered by satellite services, and to this end the government has licenced Hughes, SpaceX, OneWeb, and Amazon’s Kuiper, and China’s Spacesail to provide satellite connectivity.

At the turn of the century, Kazakhstan had a relatively high fixed-line teledensity thanks to concerted efforts to invest in the fixed-line infrastructure and in next-generation networks. However, as with most developed telecom markets globally, demand for traditional voice services is on the wane as customers are increasingly attracted to the flexibility and ubiquity of the mobile platform for voice as well as data services.

Key developments:

Government licenses more satellite internet providers to bridge the digital divide in remote regions.
Kcell and Mobile Telecom Service aim to build at least 7,000 5G base stations and provide 80% population coverage by the end of 2027.
Kazakhtelecom sells its 100% stake in Mobile Telecom Service to Qatari-based Power International Holding.
Government commits to 95% home broadband coverage by end-2025.
Kazakhstan collaborating with Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defense and Space to build satellites to replace the ageing KazSat craft in 2026.
Report update includes operator and regulator market data to February 2025, telcos’ operating and financial data to Q4 2024, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Key companies mentioned in this report:

Kazakhtelecom (Kcell), Ducat, Astel, KazInformTelecom, Transtelecom, Altel, Beeline Kazakhstan, IZI, Mobile Telecom Service (MTS), Jysan Mobile, Amazon Kuiper, OneWeb, Starlink

Key statistics
Regional Asia market comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI vs GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Telecommunications market
Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments

Market liberalisation
Privatisation
Universal Service

Mobile network developments

Spectrum
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Roaming
250+ project

Mobile market

Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure
Mobile broadband
Major mobile operators

Altel
Kcell
Beeline Kazakhstan

MVNOs

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed broadband statistics
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Other fixed broadband services

Fixed wireless (WiMAX)
Satellite broadband

Fixed network market

Major network operators

Kazakhtelecom
Astel
Ducat (formerly Kazintel)
KazInformTelecom (KIT)
Transtelecom

Telecommunications infrastructure

National telecom network
Next Generation Network (NGN)
International infrastructure

Digital Silk Way
Satellite networks

Smart Infrastructure

Internet of Things (IoT)
Smart cities
Smart meters

Digital economy

Government Digital Program Investment
e-government

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – 2025 (e)
Table 2 – Development of telecom sector revenue – 2010 – 2025
Table 3 – Development of telecom sector revenue by type (KZT million) – 2010 – 2025
Table 4 – Change in the share of telecom revenue by sector – 2018 – 2022
Table 5 – Change in the share of telecom revenue by sector (new style) – 2023 – 2025
Table 6 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 7 – Percentage of population covered by type of mobile network – 2014 – 2019
Table 8 – Development of Beeline’s LTE coverage and penetration – 2016 – 2024
Table 9 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 10 – Change in the number of Tele2-Altel's mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2023
Table 11 – Change in the number of Kcell’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2011 – 2023
Table 12 – Development of Kcell’s financial data (KZT million) – 2010 – 2024
Table 13 – Development of Kcell’s capex – 2019 – 2024
Table 14 – Development of Kcell’s mobile revenue by type (KZT million) – 2010 – 2024
Table 15 – Change in Kcell’s annualised mobile ARPU – 2010 – 2024
Table 16 – Increase in Kcell’s mobile data traffic – 2020 – 2024
Table 17 – Change in the number of Beeline Kazakhstan’s average mobile data traffic per user – 2021 – 2024
Table 18 – Increase in the number of Beeline Kazakhstan’s mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2024
Table 19 – Change in the number of Beeline Kazakhstan’s LTE subscribers – 2020 – 2024
Table 20 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s financial data (KZT million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 21 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s financial data ($ million) – 2016 – 2024
Table 22 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s mobile revenue by type (KZT million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 23 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s mobile revenue by type ($ million) – 2016 – 2024
Table 24 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s mobile ARPU – 2016 – 2024
Table 25 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 26 – Growth in the number of Beeline Kazakhstan’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Table 27 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s fixed revenue ($ million) – 2016 – 2024
Table 28 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s fixed revenue (KZT million) – 2016 – 2024
Table 29 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s fixed broadband ARPU – 2016 – 2024
Table 30 – Development of Kazakhtelecom’s financial data (KZT million) – 2009 – 2024
Table 31 – Development of Kazakhtelecom’s financial data by type (KZT million) – 2018 – 2024
Table 32 – Development of Kazakhtelecom’s fixed-line subscribers by service – 2011 – 2023
Table 33 – Development of Kazakhtelecom’s ARPU – 2012 – 2023
Table 34 – Decline in the number of fixed-line connections and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 35 – Decline in the number of fixed line connections in rural areas – 2010 – 2024
Table 36 – Decline in fixed-line voice traffic – 2010 – 2022
Table 37 – Increase in lit international internet bandwidth capacity – 2013 – 2023
Table 38 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration – 1996 – 2010
Table 39 – Historic - Beeline mobile subscribers – 2006 – 2010
Table 40 – Historic - Beeline - mobile ARPU – 2006 – 2014
Table 41 – Historic - Kar-Tel (Beeline) - fixed broadband subscribers – 2008 – 2013
Table 42 – Historic - Kcell mobile subscribers – 2006 – 2010
Table 43 – Historic - Altel mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2013
Table 44 – Historic - Altel mobile ARPU – 2010 – 2013
Table 45 – Historic - Kazakhtelecom’s mobile broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2014
Table 46 – Historic - International Internet bandwidth capacity – 2001 – 2010
Table 47 – Historic - Tele2 Kazakhstan / Altel mobile revenue (SEK million) – 2010 – 2017

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Asia Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Asia Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 3 – Asia Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 4 – Asia – Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 – Asia – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 – Central Asia – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 – Central Asia – Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 – Development of telecom sector revenue – 2010 – 2024
Chart 9 – Development of telecom sector revenue by type – 2012 – 2025
Chart 10 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 11 – Development of Beeline’s LTE coverage and penetration – 2016 – 2024
Chart 12 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 13 – Change in the number of Altel's mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2023
Chart 14 – Change in the number of Kcell’s mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2023
Chart 15 – Development of Kcell’s financial data – 2013 – 2024
Chart 16 – Development of Kcell’s mobile revenue by type – 2010 – 2024
Chart 17 – Change in Kcell’s annualised mobile ARPU (Q4) – 2010 – 2024
Chart 18 – Change in the number of Beeline Kazakhstan’s mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2024
Chart 19 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s mobile financial data – 2012 – 2024
Chart 20 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s financial data ($ million) – 2016 – 2024
Chart 21 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s mobile revenue by type (KZT) – 2012 – 2024
Chart 22 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s mobile revenue by type ($) – 2012 – 2024
Chart 23 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 24 – Growth in the number of Beeline Kazakhstan’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Chart 25 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s fixed revenue ($) – 2016 – 2024
Chart 26 – Development of Beeline Kazakhstan’s fixed revenue (KZT) – 2016 – 2024
Chart 27 – Development of Kazakhtelecom’s financial data – 2013 – 2024
Chart 28 – Development of Kazakhtelecom’s financial data by type – 2018 – 2024
Chart 29 – Development of Kazakhtelecom’s fixed-line subscribers by service – 2011 – 2023
Chart 30 – Development of Kazakhtelecom’s ARPU – 2012 – 2023
Chart 31 – Decline in the number of fixed-line connections and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 32 – Decline in the number of fixed line connections in rural areas – 2010 – 2024
Chart 33 – Decline in fixed-line voice traffic – 2010 – 2022

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Asia
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Asia – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Asia – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Asia – Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 – Kazakhtelecom’s major shareholders by proportion of ownership
Exhibit 7 – Kazakhtelecom’s subsidiaries

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Kazakhstan Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Kazakhstan’s government presses MNOs to expand 5G services

Key developments:

Key companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Asia market comparison

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network market

Telecommunications infrastructure

Digital economy

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views