Astana: Kazakhstan plans to provide satellite stations and public Wi-Fi access points to 504 villages by the end of 2025, said the country’s Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Damir Seissembekov, Trend’s special correspondent reports. Speaking at the Digital Bridge forum in Astana, Seissembekov stated that an agreement has already been signed with Starlink, which officially entered the Kazakh market, as well as a plan with Amazon to introduce cloud services in the country.

According to Trend News Agency, Seissembekov mentioned that technologies are being tested at the Republican Space Communication Center, yielding positive results. The initiative aims to diversify the market, with a goal to have at least four satellite communication operators in the coming years. Seissembekov emphasized that Kazakhstan is fostering competition and the development of satellite internet in remote areas. The communications law in the country now includes provisions for operator licensing and allocates a radio frequency band in accordance with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standards.

Seissembekov also highlighted ongoing negotiations with international companies to introduce Direct-to-Cell (D2C) services. This technology would enable residents in remote mountainous regions to send SMS messages even in the absence of traditional mobile communication. He expressed optimism that Kazakhstan could become a regional pioneer in utilizing Direct-to-Cell technology.

The rollout of Starlink’s public service in Kazakhstan began on August 13, 2025, following a contractual agreement with the Ministry of Digital Development in June 2025. Initially, the service was in a beta phase focused on rural educational institutions, but the agreement has since expanded public access to satellite internet infrastructure.