Kazakhstan’s bold bid to dominate global data traffic by 2030
Kazakhstan is pushing ahead with plans to become a major player in global data traffic. The government’s Digital Transformation Concept now aims to turn the country into a hub for processing and redistributing international data. This shift goes beyond earlier efforts to modernise government services and improve internet access.
The strategy includes new infrastructure projects, such as a submarine fibre-optic cable and a high-capacity data centre, to position Kazakhstan as a key link between Europe and Asia.
As of mid-2024, Kazakhstan had 66 data centres, but most were built for corporate use and lacked high-reliability capacity. The country’s new vision, set by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, tasks the sector with creating a global entry point for data transit, cloud services, and computing power. The goal is to move from being a simple transit route to a territory capable of receiving, processing, and exporting digital capacity.
A major part of this plan is the West–East optical superhighway, developed with private investors. This route will extend the digital corridor to China, forming a key link in the broader Affordable Internet project. Another critical component is the Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Line, which will connect Kazakhstan to European markets via Azerbaijan with a capacity of up to 400 Tbit/s.
Construction is also underway on the Akashi commercial data centre in Astana. Designed with Tier IV architecture and a capacity of 100 MW, it aims to attract international tech operators. Companies such as China Mobile International and Fortinet have already shown interest, though not all potential partners have been publicly named.
The project reflects Kazakhstan’s ambition to become a central node in global data flows, offering both transit and advanced processing capabilities.
The new infrastructure projects mark a significant step in Kazakhstan’s digital strategy. With expanded data capacity and international partnerships, the country is positioning itself as a keybank in the global digital economy. The success of these efforts will depend on the completion of high-reliability facilities and the ability to attract major tech operators.
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