Kazakhstan-based Akashi Data Center and China Mobile have signed a memorandum of understanding. The signing ceremony took place during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Digital Economy Forum in Tianjin, China, on July 11.
The document covers cooperation in the development of intelligent infrastructure for data centers, the artificial intelligence (AI) industry and the construction of a computing power network in Kazakhstan.
«This cooperation marks China Mobile’s first project in Kazakhstan, underscoring the growing importance of the region in the global digital economy,» Akashi Data Center representatives said.
The two parties will focus on the implementation and development of computing power for international AI models, as well as the advancement of intelligent industry hubs.
«The project will strengthen Kazakhstan’s position as a digital hub in Central Asia and open up new opportunities for innovation and economic growth,» the company said in a statement.
Akashi Data Center is the largest data center project in Kazakhstan, aimed at doubling the country’s computing capacity and establishing a strong foundation for its digital infrastructure.
On June 17, Akashi Data Center began construction of a Tier IV data center — the first of its kind in Central Asia — in Astana.
Once the project is launched in the first quarter of 2026, it is expected to help address the shortage of computing capacity, attract major IT companies to the country and become a powerful driver of economic growth in Kazakhstan.
China Mobile is a Chinese telecommunications company and the largest mobile operator in the world.
In 2024, the company reported a net profit of $18.3 billion — a 5% increase year-on-year (YoY). As of early 2024, China Mobile’s assets and liabilities stood at $292.6 billion (+5.8% YoY) and $99.2 billion (+10%), respectively. In 2014, China Mobile was included in the Forbes Global 2000 and the FT Global 500 rankings of the world’s most valuable and influential public companies, as listed by the Financial Times.
