Page 67 - SAMENA Trends - August-September 2025

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Amazon’s Satellite Internet to Launch in Kazakhstan

Minister of Digital Development, Innovation
and Aerospace Industry Zhaslan Madiyev
announced plans to expand access to high-
quality Internet in Kazakhstan, Kazinform
News Agency reports. According to the
Minister, Amazon’s Kuiper satellite internet
service is expected to be introduced
in Kazakhstan in 2027. The Ministry
of Digital Development clarified that it
had signed a memorandum with Kuiper
(Amazon) in September last year to provide
satellite communication services, and
that preparatory work has been underway
since then. Currently, OneWeb and
Starlink already operate in the country. As
reported earlier, the Ministry of Artificial
Intelligence is set to be established on the Development, Innovations and Aerospace stressed that Kazakhstan should turn into
basis of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Industry. Recall that the Head of State a digital country within three years.

Ofcom Sets 2026 Target for UK D2D Launch

UK watchdog Ofcom laid out plans to connectivity for standard mobile devices. authorizing them to offer D2D connectivity
authorize the launch of direct-to-device Since D2D connectivity is not covered in spectrum bands below 3GHz. The
(D2D) satellite services using terrestrial by current exemptions, the regulator has regulator is now inviting operators to
mobile spectrum in 2026, moving to update proposed fresh rules to allow phones submit requests for these variations,
licensing frameworks in a bid to accelerate and other SIM-enabled devices to access alongside launching a fresh consultation
rollout. Following a consultation earlier satellite-based connectivity services in the on the proposed updates and device
this year, Ofcom confirmed it will update UK. The new framework will enable MNOs to exemptions. Ofcom is seeking feedback
MNO license conditions to enable satellite request variations to their existing licenses, on the proposal by 10 October. “Subject
to our consideration of the responses, and
the timing of license variation requests, our
ambition is to facilitate the introduction
of D2D services in the UK in early 2026,”
the watchdog stated. D2D deployments
will be limited to the UK and its territorial
waters, excluding the Channel Islands and
Isle of Man. Operators will also need to
coordinate with co-channel and adjacent
spectrum users and may face additional
restrictions to protect spectrum users in
neighboring countries. While the regulator
is pushing to be among the first in Europe
to finalize a legal framework for allowing
satellite services on standard consumer
smartphones, launches will depend on
operator readiness. UK-based Vodafone is
arguably leading the European push on D2D
services, partnering with AST SpaceMobile
earlier this year to form Luxembourg-based
SatCo, a satellite joint venture aiming
to support commercial direct-to-mobile
services across the continent.

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