Satellite company partners with Kazakhstan to expand rural internet access
This collaboration aims to close the digital divide by providing broadband internet and e-Government services under the ‘Digital Kazakhstan’ initiative.
Hughes Network Systems, a subsidiary of Echostar, has joined forces with Kazakhstan’s Republican Center of Space Communication (RCSC) to deploy cutting-edge satellite technology in over 200 remote villages. The aim is to bridge the digital gap by providing broadband internet access and e-government services as part of Kazakhstan’s ‘Digital Kazakhstan’ program.
The contract, facilitated through Timir LLP, a Kazakh import company, will utilize the latest Jupiter System technology featuring software-defined satellite networking and dynamic reconfiguration for efficiency.
Timir’s general director, Sergey Tsvetkov, expressed confidence in the solution’s suitability for RCSC’s needs. Hughes’ VP of International Division, Vaibhav Magow, emphasized their commitment to connecting the unconnected in Kazakhstan.
Why does it matter?
This initiative reflects Kazakhstan’s efforts to address the digital gap, including previous collaborations with SpaceX’s Starlink for rural school connectivity, with plans to broaden Starlink’s usage pending legislative amendments.
About author
DW Team
The GIP Digital Watch Observatory team, consisting of over 30 digital policy experts from around the world, excels in the fields of research and analysis on digital policy issues. The team is backed by the creative prowess of Creative Lab Diplo and the technical expertise of the Diplo tech team.