OneWeb plans to offer its internet services in Kazakhstan this year

OneWeb will provide access to the internet in rural areas / Collage by Kursiv.media (oneweb.net and Shutterstock), photo editor: Denis Andreev

Kazakhstanis will gain access to internet services from OneWeb this year, according to the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry.

«OneWeb is working on a gateway for its non-Geo communication network at the Kokterek Center of Space Communication. The service is expected to be ready for commercial use this year,» the ministry said in a statement.

Kazakhstan considers OneWeb an effective solution for eliminating digital inequality as the country plans to connect 328 remote villages to the internet.

The Digital Ministry and OneWeb signed a memorandum of understanding in 2021. Under this arrangement, the two sides planned to open a OneWeb technical center to deliver the company’s service across all of Central Asia.

Furthermore, OneWeb and Kazakhstan discussed the possibility of assembling details of OneWeb satellites in Astana, although, no additional information about this project is available.

OneWeb was established by Greg Wyler, a former Google engineer in 2012. The company launched its first functional satellites in 2019. The project has been supported by Intelsat, Qualcomm, Virgin Group, Coca-Cola and other companies.

In late March 2020, OneWeb applied for bankruptcy as it failed to secure a $2 billion tranche from Japanese Softbank. The investor didn’t provide the company with the necessary funds amid preparations to launch 34 low-orbit satellites. OneWeb was later acquired by the British government for $1 billion. The money was spent on settlements with former owners of the company.

In February 2023, Kazakhstan Railways and OneWeb agreed to cooperate in the sphere of satellite terminals for Kazakhstani railways to connect remote facilities and trains with the global web.

KazSat and Starlink satellites

According to the Digital Ministry, Kazakhstan uses domestically produced KazSat satellites to provide access to the internet for 176 villages with 17,000 residents.

Given that the internet connection provided by KazSat satellites is relatively slow, the country’s government decided to deploy American Starlink systems in villages with a population more than 50 people. Thanks to these devices, around 2,000 rural schools in Kazakhstan are expected to gain access to the internet.

In December 2023, the Digital Ministry reported that 1,432 villages throughout Kazakhstan had no access to mobile internet.