Astana, 22 October. Funding for the Affordable Internet national project for 2023–2027 is being cut from 1.5 trillion to 998.6 billion tenge, and Amazon LEO and Shanghai SpaceSail will enter Kazakhstan's satellite internet market in 2027, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev in reply to a request from Kurultai MPs.
Under the proposed version, money from the national budget falls from 177.6 billion to 109.6 billion tenge and off-budget funding from 1.32 trillion to 889 billion tenge; the 6.1 billion tenge from local budgets in the current version is no longer listed separately. Madiyev explained the revision by the project's actual progress, a redistribution of funding and an updated list of villages that need internet access; the changes, he said, require no extra budget spending and leave the national project's goals unchanged. The draft resolution has been approved by the government and is awaiting the Prime Minister's signature.
The national project is behind its original schedule. It was meant to be built as a public-private partnership, but was then switched to an investment agreement with Kazakhtelecom, signed in June 2025, with a construction contract between Kazakhtelecom and Transtelecom in December; construction work began only on 20 May 2026. So far 391 rural settlements have been connected, 44 by fibre-optic lines and 347 by satellite, and 12,500 km of lines have been laid. By the end of 2026, 2,131 villages will be connected including last year's, and another 877 in 2027. Of the 3,008 settlements, 2,747 will get fibre and 261 satellite connections, and for some villages satellite is seen as a temporary solution until cable is laid.
Satellite internet in the country is currently sold by Starlink and OneWeb: both companies received licences on 2 October 2026 and moved from pilot to commercial operation. OneWeb has set up public Wi-Fi points in 362 villages, and Starlink terminals are installed in 1,798 schools. In 2027 they will be joined by Amazon LEO and Shanghai SpaceSail.
What it means: The state is spending less than promised on connecting villages to the internet and is stretching the timetable, while filling gaps with satellite: 261 of 3,008 villages will remain on satellite links, and the number of satellite operators will rise to four in 2027.
Who benefits: The cut affects above all the budget (68 billion tenge less) and the investor, Kazakhtelecom (off-budget funding down by 431 billion tenge). For residents of villages still without internet, the schedule matters more: 2,131 villages by the end of 2026 and another 877 in 2027. According to the minister's reply, the new satellite operators will widen the choice where cable has not yet been laid.
Background: The Affordable Internet national project covers 2023–2027; the ministry regards satellite connections for some villages as temporary, until fibre-optic lines are built.
List of sources used: The Tenge, FINANCEkaz
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
