Speedier Internet in Kazakhstan: Identifying Top Cities with Fastest Speeds and Impact on Users
Kazakhstan residents have significantly increased their mobile internet consumption, with Kcell and activ subscribers seeing an 85% surge in traffic in April 2025 compared to the previous year. According to the telecommunications company, Shymkent witnessed the most substantial growth at 93%, followed by Aktau (85%) and Almaty (45%).
The rapid increase in online activity is indicative of a growing reliance on strong, reliable, and fast internet for streaming, working, and communication. Recognizing this trend, mobile operators like Kcell have been actively preparing their networks for the future. Since the start of the year, Kcell has built and updated more than 860 base stations, over 300 of which support 5G technology. Nationwide, over 3,000 objects have been modernized, resulting in increased average access speeds in Aktau (3.2 times), Almaty, and Shymkent (nearly doubled).
With their commitment to staying ahead in the digital landscape, Kcell has seen impressive 5G growth. In Almaty, the share of traffic flowing through 5G networks has risen from 19% to 38%, while in Shymkent it climbed from 13% to 31%, and in Aktau from 5% to 29%. In Atyrau, Akmola, and Ural, Kcell has already surpassed its 5G targets for 2026.
Kcell's CEO, Askar Zhambakin, boldly stated that the speed of mobile internet in three Kazakh cities surpasses that in Tokyo. He backed up this claim with measurements to support their progress in the field.
In response to the escalating internet usage, Kcell has launched a new "Better" tariff, which offers unlimited 5G access, bonus gigabytes up to 40GB per month, and separate unlimited access for popular platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and messengers. The most affordable package is priced at 990 tenge, with unused traffic carrying over to the next month. Customers also have the option to customize the tariff based on their specific needs.
"Better" is more than just a tariff, according to Zhambakin, it's a philosophy reflecting Kcell's commitment to constant improvement and enhancing the quality of their services for their customers. The internet in Kazakhstan is becoming faster, more stable, and more affordable, all without the delays and buffering that could otherwise hamper the user experience. This once urban-only standard is now becoming a new normal in many regions of the country, marking a significant step towards digitization and progress.
Technology plays a significant role in this digital transformation, as Kcell actively prepares their networks with 5G technology. For instance, Kcell has built and updated over 860 base stations, with over 300 supporting 5G. This technical upgrade has resulted in increased average access speeds and a surge in 5G traffic in various Kazakh cities.
