Operators' Strategies Accommodating the Rise in Internet Data Flow
Boosting Mobile Internet Speeds in Kazakhstan
According to the Speedtest Global Index, as of April 2025, Kazakhstan ranks 51st worldwide in mobile internet speed, with plans to see continuous improvement in this area. The country's focus on developing and upgrading necessary infrastructure aims to ensure users experience optimal internet speeds.
In April 2025 alone, Kazakh internet users consumed 85% more gigabytes compared to the previous year, with Kcell and activ subscribers accounting for this increase. Shymkent saw the highest traffic consumption with a 93% increase, followed by Aktobe with an 85% increase, and Almaty with a 45% rise.
The trend towards increased digital usage is evident, with more streaming, video, and social media consumption observed among Kazakhs, necessitating stable internet speeds that operators are working to provide. Now a common expectation, speed has become the new norm.
In the ranking of cities with the fastest mobile internet, Almaty stands in 63rd place, while Astana ranks 71st, surpassing Tokyo with a population of 14 million (82nd place). This underscores the impressive level of mobile internet speed already achieved in Kazakhstan.
Since the start of 2025, the company has built and modernized over 860 base stations, including 330 supporting 5G. The pace of 5G technology implementation has increased by 55% compared to the previous year, and the company has installed over 3,000 new base stations countrywide in the last two years.
With significant investments totaling around 255 billion tenge over the past two years, the company has exceeded scheduled construction deadlines in multiple cities. Kcell has already met its 2025 5G obligations in the southern and western regions and has completed tasks planned for 2026 in cities like Atyrau, Aktau, Aktobe, and Uralsk, exceeding the construction schedule by 207 base stations.
These substantial investments are evident in real measurements, with an increase in average access speed in Aktobe by 3.2 times and near 50% in both Shymkent and Almaty. Users instantly notice the difference: quicker response times, faster content loading, and no ads or waiting periods. Kcell's internet adapts to the new digital reality.
Kcell JSC Chairman Askar Zhambakin highlighted the growth in 5G network usage, with the share of 5G traffic rising from 19 to 38% in Almaty, from 13 to 31% in Shymkent, and from 5 to 29% in Aktobe. The company records peak speeds of up to 1500 Mbps on 5G networks, surpassing many fixed-line connections. In normal conditions, 5G speeds consistently maintain 200-300 Mbps, enabling 4K-quality movie streaming without delays. Mobile internet has become a full-fledged alternative to fixed-line connections.
As more than just coverage, Kcell serves as the technological foundation for a digital life in Kazakhstan. By investing in thousands of new stations, including those in remote regions, the company aims to meet demand and set a new standard for connectivity in the country. The growing need for calls, video, work, study, and entertainment necessitates more traffic and consistent speed. The 5G network has already established itself in digital infrastructure and continues to gain momentum. With 5G-compatible smartphones, users are encouraged to tap into its full potential, keeping pace with the increasing demands of a rapidly digitalizing world.
- The efforts to enhance mobile internet speeds in Kazakhstan extend beyond just coverage, as Kcell invests in data-and-cloud-computing technology to ensure a stable and efficient digital infrastructure, catering to the growing needs for calls, video, work, study, and entertainment.
- In the realm of finance and industry, Kcell's significant investments of around 255 billion tenge over the past two years, particularly in technology and 5G network implementation, have positioned the company as a vital player in Kazakhstan's digital transformation, moving mobile internet towards becoming a full-fledged alternative to fixed-line connections.
