17 May - Telecommunications Workers' Day

On 17 May, Kazakhstan marks Telecommunications Workers' Day - a professional holiday honouring the specialists who ensure the stable operation of telecommunications networks that have become an indispensable part of modern life.

The holiday coincides with World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), of which Kazakhstan has been a member since 1992.

"Today it is technical specialists who ensure the uninterrupted operation of network infrastructure, the advancement of telecommunications technologies, and the connection of settlements to modern communication services. The quality of connectivity, internet accessibility, and the resilience of the country's digital infrastructure depend directly on their professionalism," noted the Deputy Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan.

The telecommunications sector currently employs approximately 35,000 people in Kazakhstan. In recent years, the country has carried out extensive work to develop communications infrastructure, expand mobile internet coverage, and connect rural settlements to high-speed internet.

Kazakhstan is also demonstrating steady improvement in connectivity quality indicators. Average mobile internet speed has reached 94.54 Mbps. As part of infrastructure modernisation, rural areas are being upgraded from outdated 3G to modern 4G standards, while 5G technology has already been rolled out in more than 20 cities, including major urban centres, regional capitals, and the towns of Alatau and Khorgos.

Ahead of the professional holiday, the annual industry competition among telecommunications technical specialists was held in Astana. This year, specialists from nine Kazakhstani telecommunications companies took part. Competitors demonstrated practical skills in fibre optic cable splicing — one of the key disciplines in ensuring stable and high-quality connectivity.

First place went to employees of Kazakhtelecom JSC, second place to Transtelecom JSC, and third place to KaR-Tel LLP.

The celebratory events concluded with an awards ceremony recognising industry workers for their contributions to the development of the telecommunications sector. Distinguished representatives of the industry received state and industry awards, including the titles "Qurmet", "Enbek Ardageri", and "Baylanys Salasynyng Uzdigi".

Telecommunications Workers' Day serves to highlight the contribution of industry specialists to the development of the digital economy, the introduction of modern technologies, and the improvement of quality of life for citizens of Kazakhstan.