Kazakhstan has ranked 7th in terms of mobile internet costs among countries with high connection speeds, El.kz reports citing Finprom.kz.
The study estimates the cost of a monthly mobile internet package in Kazakhstan at 10.65 dollars. The sample included countries ranked among the top performers in the Speedtest Global Index for mobile internet speeds.
According to the data cited by the analysts, mobile internet speeds in Kazakhstan average approximately 93 Mbps. Kazakhstan outperforms a number of developed countries in this regard, although Vietnam, Georgia and India record higher speeds at lower package prices.
A separate ranking by Broadband Genie estimates the median cost of one gigabyte of mobile data included in tariff plans in Kazakhstan at approximately 0.30 dollars.
This is an indicative figure calculated on the basis of tariff conditions; it does not mean that every subscriber actually purchases one gigabyte at this price.
At the same time, mobile communication services in Kazakhstan are becoming more expensive. Last year, mobile operators notified subscribers of increases in package fees, attributing the adjustments to network operating costs and tax-related factors.
However, low prices in US dollar terms do not necessarily translate into affordability when household incomes are taken into account. In another study, Finprom, using the International Telecommunication Union’s standard mobile data basket methodology and purchasing power parity (PPP), found that Kazakhstan’s prices were above the global median.
Meanwhile, the load on mobile networks continues to increase. According to the data cited in the study, annual traffic consumption per mobile subscription in Kazakhstan amounted to approximately 283 GB, equivalent to an average of 23.6 GB per month. Usage levels vary across individual mobile network operators.
The expansion of fifth-generation (5G) networks requires the deployment of additional base stations and the modernisation of network equipment. Analysts attribute further increases in operators’ expenditure to the continued growth in data traffic consumption.
At the same time, high speeds recorded in international benchmarking tests do not guarantee consistent service quality across all population centres. Actual connectivity conditions depend on network coverage, network congestion and the specific tariff plan.
