Kazakhstan: The New Growth Hub for Digital Technologies
Key Sectors: Data Centers, Telecommunications, Smart Cities, and Cybersecurity
Kazakhstan is rapidly emerging as one of Eurasia’s key digital hubs.
An active national digitalization policy, large-scale investment programs, and growing business demand make the country a strategic destination for technology companies from across the CIS.
Special attention is drawn to four sectors forming the foundation of future infrastructure: data centers, telecommunications, smart cities, and cybersecurity.
Data Centers: Digital Sovereignty as a National Priority
The development of data centers in Kazakhstan is one of the most dynamic areas in recent years. Amid the rapid growth of e-services, e-commerce, and fintech platforms, the state is investing heavily in building its own data storage and processing infrastructure. The total data center market in Central Asia exceeds $250 million, with over 60% concentrated in Kazakhstan.
New Tier III and Tier IV facilities are being built, emphasizing energy efficiency, capacity redundancy, and the transition of government institutions to cloud solutions. For tech companies, this is a field of opportunity rising demand spans infrastructure components, monitoring systems, cooling, cybersecurity, and automation. Kazakhstan is effectively forming its sovereign cloud ecosystem, open to international collaboration.
Telecommunications: Kazakhstan as the Digital Bridge Between Europe and Asia
Kazakhstan plays a central role in the Digital Silk Way project a digital equivalent of the historic Silk Road connecting Europe, the Caucasus, and Asia. This ambitious $700 million project includes the construction of transcontinental fiber-optic routes across the Caspian Sea and Kazakhstan, ensuring robust data transmission between continents. Domestically, next-generation communication networks are expanding rapidly.
5G networks were launched in major cities in 2024, and by the end of 2025, high-speed internet is expected to reach all regional centers.
Meanwhile, IoT platforms and cloud services for telecom operators are advancing, turning Kazakhstan into a full-fledged regional digital communication hub, not merely a transit corridor.
Smart Cities: Urban Transformation Through Technology
The “Digital Kazakhstan” program is among the region’s most ambitious government-led digital initiatives, featuring over 50 Smart City projects in transport, utilities, energy, and urban analytics.
Astana, Almaty, and Karaganda have become pilot zones for intelligent transport management, parking systems, street lighting, and video surveillance.
By 2026, investments in Smart City projects are expected to exceed $1.2 billion, much of it through public–private partnerships (PPP).
For Russian and CIS companies specializing in Smart City systems, BIM, IoT, and digital twins, Kazakhstan offers natural advantages shared standards, linguistic and cultural proximity, and trusted partnerships.
Cybersecurity: A New Agenda for Digital Sovereignty
With the expansion of digital services comes the growing need for data and infrastructure protection.
In 2024, Kazakhstan adopted a National Cybersecurity Strategy, introducing certification of local solutions, development of a national incident response center (KZ-CERT), and creation of a unified system for protecting critical sectors. The cybersecurity market is valued at $120 million and is growing 15–17% annually, focusing on energy, finance, transport, and government systems. For Russian and CIS developers of antivirus software, SOC platforms, encryption, and SIEM systems, Kazakhstan is becoming an open and rapidly expanding market.
Integration Vector: Toward a Unified Digital Ecosystem
All four sectors data centers, telecom, smart cities, and cybersecurity converge in a single trend: Kazakhstan is moving toward an integrated digital ecosystem. The government prioritizes technological independence while remaining open to international cooperation and localization.
For Russian and CIS companies, this is not just a market it’s a gateway of opportunity.
Geographic proximity, regulatory compatibility, and mutual trust enable fast integration of technologies into local infrastructure.
Next Key Platform GITEX Central Asia & Caucasus 2026 - 2-4 June 2026 Astana
This exhibition will unite companies across AI, Cybersecurity, Cloud, Telecommunications, FinTech, Smart City, and Industrial Digitalization, becoming the central meeting point for Eurasia’s technology ecosystem.