Kazakhstan and the International Telecommunication Union Strengthen Digital Partnership

In preparation for the International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (PP–26), a bilateral meeting took place at the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan between Deputy Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Doszhan Mussaliyev and ITU Deputy Secretary-General Tomas Lamanauskas.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the implementation of initiatives within the Year of Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence declared by the President of Kazakhstan.

The Deputy Minister presented the country's key achievements, including the launch of a national supercomputer and the adoption of the Digital Code, reinforcing Kazakhstan's position as a regional digital hub.

In the area of digital infrastructure development, he presented projects to increase international interconnection bandwidth, including a fibre optic cable project along the seabed of the Caspian Sea, the creation of the Data Center Valley to establish Kazakhstan as the largest regional digital hub and attract leading global technology companies, and the extension of high-speed internet to every village as part of a large-scale digital transformation — with more than 3,000 villages to be connected to the internet by the end of 2027.

Tomas Lamanauskas gave a high assessment of Kazakhstan's achievements in GovTech and inclusive artificial intelligence, emphasising the relevance of Kazakhstan's experience for ITU member states in bridging the digital divide.

The meeting also highlighted Kazakhstan's active role in ITU activities. The Deputy Minister confirmed the country's intention to continue its work in the organisation's key elected bodies for the period 2027–2030.

"Our presence on the ITU Council and in the RRB is a strategic necessity for protecting the region's interests and advancing an inclusive digital future," noted Doszhan Mussaliyev.

The parties concluded their discussions with a review of next steps in the context of the Plenipotentiary Conference scheduled for November 2026.