Kazakhstan trials Chinese satellite internet

A test launch of satellite internet service by China’s Shanghai SpaceSail has been carried out in the Almaty region.

«The tests were conducted with the participation of the company’s specialists, who arrived in Kazakhstan to showcase the technology. A connection speed of up to 200 megabits per second was recorded during the tests, confirming the technology’s high potential,» Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry reported.

The ministry noted that the Shanghai SpaceSail system is based on low-orbit satellite communications. Such satellites provide stable, high-speed connectivity even in remote areas where deploying fiber-optic networks is economically or technically challenging.

Kazakhstan plans to use satellite internet to provide connectivity to rural schools, medical institutions, mobile teams and infrastructure facilities, the Digital Ministry emphasized.

According to the agency, Shanghai SpaceSail plans to commence operations in Kazakhstan in 2026. Earlier, a Kazakhstani delegation visited the company’s head office in Shanghai, where it was presented with technological solutions and industrial processes.

In June, the ministry signed an agreement with SpaceX — the company behind the development and operation of Starlink — requiring it to comply with local legislation when providing satellite internet. Starting in the third quarter of 2025, Starlink terminals will be officially available for purchase by Kazakhstanis.