Kcell Eurasian Mobile Summit 2023: To Build or Not to Build Mobile Networks in Kazakhstan

At the international telecom conference Kcell Eurasian Mobile Summit 2023, participants actively discussed the prospects for the development of mobile networks in Kazakhstan. The main focus was on the importance of digitalization and the issue of radiofobia.

Bayan Konirbaev, Head of the Digitalization Department of the City of Almaty, emphasized: “There can be no talk of digitalization without basic infrastructure. This is sustainable, strategic development that must grow with the population. However, radiofobia has become an obstacle; in the last six months, more than 30 stations were demolished in Almaty due to public concerns.”

Tair Ismailov, representative of GSMA, added: “The development of mobile networks should be viewed from the perspective of profitability. It is necessary to take into account the factor of radiofobia, which has intensified with the advent of 5G. For operators to work successfully, it is fundamentally important to simplify administrative procedures.”

These comments highlight the complexity and multifaceted nature of the issue of mobile network development in Kazakhstan and the need to consider both economic and social aspects of this process.