Mobile Operators

Cities and almost all the villages in Kazakhstan are covered with mobile network. Main mobile network operators in Kazakhstan are Kcell, Beeline, Tele2, Altel 4G. There is no big difference which operator you will choose when travelling in the cities. However, if you are going to reach remote areas of the country travelling long distances across vast steppes, then it is better to buy SIM card of such mobile network giants as Kcell or Beeline. Their networks may cover even uninhabited areas. Mobile service is operated at the following frequency ranges:  GSM (900/1800), UMTS/WCDMA (2100 MHz), LTE(4G), LTE Advanced (700/800 MHz и 1700/1800 MHz), HSPA+ .

It is possible to make international calls using a SIM card of any mobile network operator listed above. There is also Wi-Fi option based on the wireless access to the internet. A wide range of digital-options are offered in Kazakhstan such as mobile financial services, multimedia services, convergent services, as well as M2M-, MDM-, E2E-decision contents. 

As a rule, a SIM card itself is cheap and a small start balance is almost always included in the cost. Further on, you can choose necessary tariff. There are various tariffs, and at the sales points you can receive detailed information about tariffs and get help.

It is possible to buy SIM cards even in small shops by the side of the roads. However, there is a bigger choice in large sales points at the airport, at the railway station, in the shopping malls; and, more likely, salespersons there will know English language and, hence, will be able to help you out. 

Below is a list of necessary documents to register mobile number/to conclude a subscription agreement. 

Individuals – residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan – should provide one of these documents:

• Passport of the citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• ID of the citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Residence permit for a foreign citizen
• Stateless person certificate
• Certificate of birth

Individuals – non-residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan – should provide these documents:

• Passport
• Valid certificate of temporary registration in the Republic of Kazakhstan, if applicable