Kazakh telecom operator Transtelecom is rolling out Starlink satellite broadband across trains operated by Passenger Transportation JSC, extending internet access along rail routes where terrestrial mobile coverage is limited or unavailable.
The project is being implemented in stages and will equip 124 trains and 1,235 carriages operating across 50 routes in Kazakhstan.
Transtelecom said Starlink connectivity has already been activated on some trains, while installation work continues across the rest of the fleet.
LEO broadband targets gaps in terrestrial coverage
The deployment uses Starlink’s low Earth orbit satellite network to provide broadband connectivity during rail journeys.
The main objective is to improve internet availability across long-distance routes that pass through areas with weak or no mobile network coverage.
That makes satellite broadband particularly relevant in Kazakhstan, where large distances and low-density regions can make continuous terrestrial coverage difficult to provide.
More than 1,200 carriages included in rollout
Transtelecom said the project will ultimately cover 1,235 carriages across 124 trains.
The trains operate on 50 routes managed by Passenger Transportation JSC, a subsidiary of national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy.
The company has not disclosed a target date for completing the rollout, saying only that remaining installations are progressing according to the implementation schedule.
Starlink has expanded rapidly in Kazakhstan
Starlink became commercially available in Kazakhstan in August 2025.
Transtelecom became an official Starlink reseller partner in February 2026, creating a foundation for wider enterprise and public-sector deployments.
The railway project follows another initiative launched in May with national postal operator QazPost to install Starlink connectivity in remote settlements.
Together, the projects show Transtelecom using satellite broadband in both fixed rural access and mobility environments.
Kazakhstan is also testing direct-to-device satellite services
Satellite connectivity is developing on several fronts in Kazakhstan.
Beeline Kazakhstan has been field-testing Starlink’s direct-to-device service, which is designed to allow compatible mobile phones to connect directly to satellites.
A commercial launch is planned for 2026, according to the source.
The technologies address different use cases. The Transtelecom deployment provides broadband connectivity to trains using dedicated Starlink equipment, while direct-to-device services are intended to extend basic mobile connectivity directly to handsets.
Why this matters
Rail connectivity is a strong use case for satellite broadband because trains can travel for long periods through areas where mobile networks are sparse.
By adding Starlink to 124 trains, Kazakhstan is using LEO satellites to fill gaps that would be difficult or expensive to solve through terrestrial infrastructure alone.
The project could improve passenger connectivity while also demonstrating how satellite networks can complement national mobile and fixed broadband infrastructure.
Editor's note
The most important point is that Kazakhstan is beginning to use Starlink across multiple connectivity layers.
Transtelecom is deploying it for remote settlements and now for passenger rail, while Beeline is testing direct-to-device connectivity.
That suggests satellite broadband is moving from a niche access technology toward a broader role in national connectivity strategy, particularly in countries where geography makes universal terrestrial coverage challenging.
Source: MEA Tech Watch Press Reporter
