EU ready to help Kazakhstan diversify high-speed connectivity services

The European Union stands ready to help Kazakhstan diversify high-speed connectivity services, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan Dr. Johannes Baur told Kazinform News Agency correspondent.

With internet traffic mostly coming from Russia and China, Kazakhstan may team up with Europe in an attempt to diversify its high-speed connectivity services, he said on the sidelines of the meeting organized by the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia.

According to Dr. Baur, the satellite communication system of Europe’s satellite operator SES is located in the medium earth orbit, unlike, for instance, Starlink’s satellites located in low earth orbit. That means SES has a vast service offering covering not only Kazakhstan, but also the Central Asia region.

The project, in his words, have already been approved by the European Commission and is set to be unveiled at the upcoming European Union and Central Asia summit in 2024.

Some €20 million earmarked by EBRD as part of the project is believed to be channeled mostly to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.