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Tengrinews.kz – Mobile operators in Kazakhstan will now be required to provide anonymized data about subscribers to national statisticians. The Senate approved the corresponding law in two readings.
The amendments, aimed at improving state support for innovation and public statistics, include changes to the law on communications. Under the new rules, operators must share subscriber data for statistical purposes, while officials insist personal information will remain protected.
Senator Altynbek Nukhuly raised concerns over the potential financial burden on telecom companies, warning it could affect service tariffs.
“Why do you consider it necessary to collect subscriber data through mobile operators? These requirements may impose additional costs on operators, which could eventually lead to higher prices for the population. Are there no alternative ways to gather statistical information on migration and tourism flows?” he asked.
Maksat Turlybayev, head of the Bureau of National Statistics, explained that the need for accurate data has been studied for two years in cooperation with mobile operators.
“We already receive information from government agencies and the Customs Committee. For example, according to customs, 7.1 million tourists arrived in 2024, while business reports showed only 1.3 million. That leaves more than 5 million tourists unaccounted for,” he said.
Turlybayev noted that international practice shows mobile operators provide the most accurate insights.
“In the first quarter of last year, 294,000 domestic tourists were officially recorded in Astana. But mobile operator data showed 542,000. This proves the reliability of such information,” he added.
He also expressed hope that telecom operators in Kazakhstan would not face additional expenses, but noted that the matter still requires further analysis.
