Kazakhstan Launches Major Project to Bring High-Speed Internet to Rural Villages

The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan has announced the launch of a significant new initiative titled "Accelerated Digitalization for an Inclusive Economy of Kazakhstan." A key component of this project is an open competition for telecommunications operators to receive co-financing grants.

The primary goal of the competition is to expand telecommunication infrastructure in rural areas and provide village residents with internet access at speeds of at least 100 Mbps. This will be achieved through the construction of fiber-optic communication lines (FOCL) in 1,123 rural settlements that currently lack local internet access networks.

Upon completion, the project is expected to connect over 445,000 households, providing high-speed internet access to approximately 2.3 million people across the country's rural regions.

To facilitate this large-scale build-out, selected telecom operators will receive non-repayable co-financing grants covering up to 50% of their confirmed capital expenditures for constructing networks in these areas. The remaining investment will come from the operators' own funds. Importantly, all newly built infrastructure will remain on the balance sheets and under the ownership of the participating companies.

The selection process for grant recipients will be conducted via an open competition, with organizers pledging adherence to principles of equal access, transparency, and accountability throughout the procedure.