Kazakhstan to launch internet on trains and planes

In 2026, passenger trains of «Қазақстан темір жолы» and aircraft of Air Astana will be equipped with satellite internet. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Jaslan Madiev at a government meeting. Currently, three satellite internet operators are active in the country, and two foreign companies are expected to join soon. Pilot tests of the technology are scheduled for 2026. Local authorities will provide satellite internet to tourist and hard-to-reach areas using local budget funds. A project is also underway to provide mobile connectivity along roads, covering around 40,000 km within the next two years. The minister noted that 5G is being rolled out and is already available in 20 cities, with plans to cover 75% of their territories. More than 6,000 rural settlements will receive high-speed fiber-optic internet. The “Last Mile” project will connect 400,000 households to the network, reaching an additional 2.5 million people.