Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) has given an update on the progress of its Digital Kazakhstan project which is seeking to improve broadband internet connectivity in 1,700 rural settlements.
A report from The Astana Times cites Minister Dauren Abayev as saying that 122 cities and 1,200 smaller localities are currently covered by broadband infrastructure. The latest phase of the programme, which will be carried out between 2018 and 2020 under a service contract model, will see around two million people in 1,700 rural areas given access to high speed internet services. The scheme also includes 2,000 schools; while 98% of schools in Kazakhstan are currently connected to the internet, two-thirds lack an adequate broadband link.