en.Wedoany.com Reported - The government of Kazakhstan's Abai Region recently announced progress in the construction of regional communication infrastructure. Kazakhtelecom is currently advancing the construction of a total of 2,352.1 km of fiber optic communication lines in the region, supplemented by satellite communications to provide additional internet access capabilities for 178 rural settlements. To date, the project has laid 103.7 km of communication conduits and 18.1 km of optical cables, with construction proceeding in phases across different areas.
This project originates from an agreement on rural internet construction signed between Kazakhstan's Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry and Kazakhtelecom. According to the current schedule, 86 rural settlements will be the first to connect to the fiber optic network by the end of 2026, while the remaining areas will be connected via fiber optics or satellite communications based on geographical conditions, population size, and existing network status. The Abai Region has a total of 326 settlements, including 4 cities and 322 villages. Currently, 260 settlements have access to fixed or mobile internet, covering approximately 80% of the population.
In addition to rural fiber optic lines, the project also extends to highways and border areas. The Abai Region plans to construct 40 communication antenna towers along national highways. Currently, design and budget documents for 33 projects have passed review, and most projects have secured investors. Communication facility construction at the Zhetken highway border crossing has been completed, while communication infrastructure at other border crossings remains under construction.
The Alakol tourist area in Kazakhstan is another focus of this network expansion. Kazakhtelecom is using its own funds to lay fiber optic lines, with over 100 accommodation and leisure facilities now connected to high-speed internet. Two communication antenna towers have also been completed locally, and mobile operator base stations have been installed to expand wireless network coverage and capacity in the lakeside area. Additional communication facilities are planned for the village of Kabanbay, with related work currently underway.
The Alakol Lake shore previously relied on a limited number of mobile communication sites. With the simultaneous increase in fiber optic backhaul lines, antenna towers, and base stations, network construction is shifting from simply supplementing wireless signals to perfecting the overall structure of "fiber optic transmission + mobile access." Official construction information shows that the number of base stations operated by Tele2 in Kazakhstan in the area has increased from 1 in 2025 to 3, and those operated by Kcell/Activ in Kazakhstan have also increased from 1 to 3.
Currently, the 2,352.1 km figure represents the overall planned length of the fiber optic network in the Abai Region, not the length already fully laid. Confirmed completed nodes include some communication conduit and optical cable construction, internet connectivity for over 100 tourist facilities, the completion of two antenna towers, and the completion of communication facilities at the Zhetken highway border crossing. Subsequent work will continue to cover rural settlements, highway corridors, border crossings, and tourist areas, extending network construction from cities and densely populated areas to transportation corridors and remote regions.
