Kazakhstan MPs say 1,502 villages missed internet connection deadline

September 23, 2026 at 12:22 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Deputies from Kazakhstan's Auyl party faction said 1,502 rural settlements were not connected to high-speed internet by the 2024–2025 deadline under the national Accessible Internet project. The failure affected 692,867 residents, according to a parliamentary inquiry addressed to Deputy Prime Minister Zhaslan Madiyev. The faction cited the Supreme Audit Chamber's findings on unprepared project documentation and financing issues.

Key Facts

The national Accessible Internet project targets connecting 2,955 rural settlements with a population of over 1.1 million to fiber-optic lines.
Only 306 villages with 284,225 residents have been connected to fiber-optic lines so far.
In 2024–2025, 1,502 settlements with 692,867 residents were not connected on schedule.
The Auyl faction proposed using satellite technologies as an operational solution for settlements still lacking high-speed internet.
The Supreme Audit Chamber cited unprepared project documentation, untimely procedures, and financing issues as reasons for the lag.

Parliamentary Inquiry

Deputies from the Auyl party faction submitted a parliamentary inquiry to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev. The inquiry states that the national Accessible Internet project provides for connecting 2,955 rural settlements with a population of over 1.1 million to fiber-optic communication lines. However, fiber-optic lines have been installed in only 306 villages, where 284,225 people live. In 2024–2025, 1,502 settlements with 692,867 residents were not connected within the established deadlines.

Audit Findings

The deputies cited the Supreme Audit Chamber, which identified unprepared project documentation, untimely procedures, and financing issues as reasons for the lag. The claimed rural internet coverage of about 97% does not mean all residents have access to high-speed internet, as the figure includes 2G, 3G, ADSL, and satellite technologies. The Auyl faction proposed providing information on the reasons for the lag, the current state of work, and connection deadlines for the 1,502 settlements. The faction also proposed developing a concrete plan for project completion with deadlines, financing, and responsible parties, and considering satellite technologies as an operational solution.

Digital Divide Monitoring

The deputies noted that access to high-speed internet remains part of parliamentary monitoring of plans to reduce the digital divide between urban and rural areas. The faction proposed establishing unified requirements for digital infrastructure in new facilities and providing for it at the design stage.