Kazakhstan: 4 Best Prepaid SIM Cards Buying Guide (2023)

Kazakhstan – made famous because of the Borat movies.

Besides those comedic-genius mobies, the country is also known for many other things.

Its high population of wild horses makes it easy for you to take stunning photos with horses either chilling or running around.

It also hosts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Saryarka Plains, Tamgaly & Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi).

And, of course, you can also be a city dweller and explore the futuristic capital city – Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana).

Before you share your Kazakhstan experiences online, be aware that international roaming can be expensive.

In fact, you should not even think of roaming here because SIM cards are SO cheap, and the cost of mobile data is almost nothing.

So, how cheap are we talking about?

You can buy a Kcell (& Activ) SIM card for 500 KZT (1.10 USD). However, it is (often) free when purchased together with a plan. Both Beeline and Tele2 require you to buy a plan to get a SIM card. SIM cards are also available at Nursultan (Astana) Nazarbayev International Airport & Almaty International Airport.

Special note for those from Ukraine: be sure to ask about special benefits for Ukrainians. Many mobile operators around Europe have waived fees for you or introduced exclusive plans, including free calls back to Ukraine. Слава Україні! 🇺🇦

Okay, there are no set prices for some SIM cards. Worry not; the low cost of mobile data will truly shock you.

10 GB of data for just 200 KZT (4.80 USD)? Yes, that is a thing.

Or unlimited data for 8000 KZT (18.85 USD). Yeah, it is a steal here!

In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Kazakhstan. Let's go.

Original publication: 5th of January 2020. Last updated: 26th of September 2023.

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Table of Contents

Can You Buy a SIM Card in Kazakhstan?

Anyone living in or visiting Kazakhstan can buy a Kazakhstani SIM card from Kcell (also for Activ), Beeline & Tele2 in their stores without any restrictions.

You do have to comply with the SIM card registration and IMEI registraton regulations.

Moreover, you need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the country (preferably all of them to have the most optimal experience while in Kazakhstan).

Furthermore, you need to have a SIM-lock-free device.

Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Kazakhstan?

You can get a Kazakhstani SIM card in Kcell (also for Activ), Beeline & Tele2 stores. It is also possible to get SIM cards at Nursultan (Astana) Nazarbayev International Airport & Almaty International Airport.

In the past, you could get SIM cards on the streets, kiosks, and grocery stores, but that is not a thing anymore because of the new SIM card registration laws.

You can expect to pay the following for Kazakhstani SIM cards:

• Kcell (& Activ): 500 KZT, but (sometimes) free when purchased with a plan
• Beeline Kazakhstan: to be purchased with a plan
• Tele2 Kazakhstan: to be purchased with a plan

Can You Use Your Phone in Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan uses GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA phones will not work in Kazakhstan. If your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSMA (99% of the phones do support GSM nowadays).

Traditional European frequencies are used in Kazakhstan, which are mostly used in ITU Regions 1 & 3 (Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania).

The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean – ITU Region 2) use American Frequencies, which differ from the European ones.

If you bought your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU Regions 1 & 3), you should not experience any issues with using your phone in Kazakhstan.

If you purchased your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, then there is a possibility you cannot use your phone when in Kazakhstan or can only use slower networks (3G or 2G).

If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in Kazakhstan (to some extent) – also on 4G/LTE.

Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan has three mobile network operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:

• Kcell (& Activ)
• Beeline Kazakhstan (Beeline Казахстан)
• Tele2 Kazakhstan (Tele2 Казахстан)

The following frequencies are used in Kazakhstan:

• 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 Mhz
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2100 MHz (Band 1)

You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.

To check whether your phone will work in Kazakhstan, check out this page by Kimovil or this one by Will My Phone Work (outdated, unfortunately, but extremely user-friendly – useful for phones launched in or before 2019. It does not check for 5G NR compatibility).

Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).

If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.

5G NR in Kazakhstan

5G NR is not available in Kazakhstan of 2021, and the Kazakhstani government has not made any indications of when it will auction 5G licenses.

However, the mobile operators were testing 5G NR capabilities in 2019.

Beeline Kazakhstan even attained a 5G NR download speed of 3 Gbps when testing in Shymkent (using Nokia equipment).

Best SIM Card in Kazakhstan

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Best eSIM in Kazakhstan

Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM to prepaid customers in Kazakhstan yet.

Note that the Kazakhstani mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards (will be discussed later).

However, you can also get a travel eSIM from various eSIM providers.

The list below is not exhaustive – many more providers have eSIMs for Kazakhstan.

But these are the ones I have tried and had pleasant experiences with.

Moreover, they are reasonably priced, which I find very important (you will not see me recommending an eSIM I would not buy myself).

So here are the eight best eSIMs for Kazakhstan:

• Kazakh mobile operators (read more in my Kazakhstan SIM card buying guide)
• Airalo Kazaknet eSIM with four choices between 1 GB and 10 GB (best value for money)
• Alosim Kazakhstan eSIM with four choices between 1 GB and 10 GB (priced roughly the same as Airalo with a bit more options – use code PTW for 5% off)
• Holafly Kazakhstan eSIM with unlimited data for 5 to 20 days (unlimited data eSIMs – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off)
• Nomad Kazakhstan eSIM with nine choices between 1 GB and 20 GB (best value for money – use code ADU123 for 3 USD off)
• AIS eSIM2FLY Asia eSIM through SimOptions (eSIM with the most 5G NR supported Asian countries (12/32) at a reasonable price but with a short validity – SimOptions does sell other Asian eSIMs, but they are not as good as AIS)
• AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM through SimOptions (eSIM with the most 5G NR supported countries (53/143) at a reasonable price but with a short validity)
• Nomad Global eSIM with six choices between 1 GB and 5 GB (extensive global coverage (109 or 139 countries) at high(er) prices – use code ADU123 for 3 USD off)

Because this is the SIM card buying guide for Kazakhstan, I will not spend too much time about travel eSIMs here and throughout this guide (but I will still do here and there).

If you want to learn more about the best eSIMs for Kazakhstan, you better check out my Kazakhstan eSIM buying guide.

It is as helpful and comprehensive as this guide but about eSIMs instead 😜.

SIM Card Registration in Kazakhstan

SIM card registration with your passport information is mandatory in Kazakhstan. It will be done at the point of sale.

IMEI Registration in Kazakhstan

As of 2019, anyone using mobile devices with Kazakhstani SIM cards has to register their phone IMEI number.

Unlike some countries that introduced an IMEI registration scheme, Kazakhstan's procedure is quick and does not cost anything (looking at you, Turkey).

IMEI registration can be done by using the following shortcodes:

• Kcell: dial *660*1*PassportNumber#
• Activ: text your Passport Number, Surname & Name(s) (replace comma and “&” with spaces) to 7006
• Beeline Kazakhstan: dial *693#, then enter your Passport Number
• Tele2 Kazakhstan: dial *6914*3#, then enter your Passport Number

However, it may be quicker to get your device registered at the store where you buy your SIM card (as the menus are in Kazakh or Russian).

Do note that, because of registration, your Kazakhstani SIM card can only be used on the device that has been registered with the mobile operator.

Trying to use anyone else's SIM card in your phone will not work.

Those using a dual-SIM phone and who want to use both SIM card slots have to register both SIM card trays.

There is no limitation on how many devices you can register on one name.

Kazakhstan Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights

It is known that mobile data rates in former USSR states, currently part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), are insanely low.

At least, when looking at them from a global perspective – the locals will disagree with my statement.

But it honestly is.

In 7 of the 13 CIS countries, the average cost of 1 GB of data is less than 1 USD.

Does this apply to Kazakhstan as well? Yes.

The average price for 1 GB of data in Kazakhstan is 0.59 USD, around the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) average of 0.98 USD. The world average is 4.07 USD.

In fact, Kazakhstan is one of the 53 countries where the average cost of 1 GB of data is less than 1 USD.

If you just looked at the image above (and below) and calculated the average quickly, you will notice that the average I mentioned is way off.

That is because I excluded Turkmenistan from the average. It is such an outlier that it pulls the average by a lot (8x more than Tajikistan, the CIS's second-most expensive country for mobile data).

Let's talk about speeds.

Are mobile data speeds fast in Kazakhstan? Not quite.

Kazakhstan's average mobile download speed is around 30 Mbps.

That is not too bad! Sure, it is below the global average, but Kazakhstan is doing well.

And you can reach download speeds of up to 150 Mbps in Nur-Sultan and Almaty – but only if you are lucky.

You can also see that mobile download speeds have improved over the year.

Perhaps slowly (compared to other nations), but an improvement is still an improvement!

But browsing the web and streaming videos should not be an issue in Kazakhstan.

With cheap SIM cards, low mobile data rates, decent mobile internet speeds, and fair nationwide coverage, you should have a decent network experience in Kazakhstan.

Currency in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan uses the Kazakhstani Tenge with the symbol KZT (which will be used throughout this guide). However, prices are often listed in ₸. For example, 25 KZT = 25 ₸.

For reference, below are some exchange rates between KZT and USD (US Dollars):

• 10 KZT = 0.20 USD
• 100 KZT = 0.20 USD
• 1000 KZT = 2.20 USD
• 10 000 KZT = 21.70 USD
• 100 000 KZT = 216.70 USD

For up-to-date KZT:USD exchange rates, search KZR to USD on Google, or replace USD with the currency you use.

Kazakhstani Prepaid SIM Cards

Below, I will guide you through Kcell (+Activ), Beeline Kazakhstan & Tele2 Kazakhstan, and go through:

• Background information
• Mobile coverage
• SIM card types, prices, and availability
• Recharge/top-up information
• Combo plans, data plans, and special packs (such as social media packs) 

With that being said, let’s see what Kazakhstan has to offer to us.

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Kcell & Activ Kazakhstan

Kcell is the largest mobile operator in Kazakhstan. It is also the oldest in the country.

Kcell also has another brand called Activ.

The difference between Kcell and Activ is the target markets of each brand.

Although Kcell plans offer corporate-like features, such as creating groups to share your allowances with, consumers can also use Kcell if they want to.

As a result, both brands will be covered in this section.

Do note that Activ customers have full access to the Kcell network and are not deprioritized on the network.

Kcell uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20) & 1800 MHz (Band 3)

This is what you will learn about Kcell & Activ:

* Coverage
* How to Get a(n) Kcell/Activ SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* IMEI Registration
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Kcell & Activ Kazakhstan

Kcell has fair coverage throughout Kazakhstan.

However, its 4G/LTE availability is lacking compared to its competitors.

Below is Kcell's coverage map produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – Kcell & Activ Kazakhstan

You can buy a Kcell and Activ SIM card for 500 KZT in Kcell stores. However, you often have to buy a plan together with your SIM card. SIM cards are also available at Almaty International Airport and Nursultan Nazarbayev (Astana) Airport.

Dial *114# to see your Kcell & Activ phone number.

Kcell & Active has no eSIMs.

Note that the Kazakhstani mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Kazakhstan (without personal detail capturing), you can get Kazaknet Kazaknet eSIMs from Airalo (four options):

1. 1 GB/7 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. 3 GB/30 days
3. 5 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
4. 10 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

No idea what or who Airalo is? Check out my Airalo review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over four years.

If you plan on visiting other countries in Europe and others in other regions or continents, consider the Nomad Global eSIM to be used in 109/139 countries worldwide with six variants:

1. 1 GB/7 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. 3 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. 5 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 13^th of September (2023 data only).

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Nomad review!

Remember to use code ADU123 for 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off your first Nomad purchase!

Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Kazakhstan.

You can read about them in my Best Kazakhstan eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.

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IMEI Registration – Kcell & Activ Kazakhstan

Kcell IMEI registration can be done by dialing *660*1*PassportNumer#.

For Activ, text your Passport Number + Surname + Name(s) to 7006.

If this does not work, you can visit a Kcell store to get IMEI registration done.

Remember, IMEI registration is free, and there is no limit on how many devices you can register.

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Kcell & Activ Kazakhstan

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Kcell & Activ Kazakhstan

Kcell has three data-featured prepaid plans:

• UNLIM (combo)
• Internet+ (data)
• Additional Internet Packs (add-ons)

Activ has four data-featured prepaid plans:

• TOP (combo)
• Internet+ (data)
• Online (data)
• Additional Internet Packages (add-ons)

I will list all the prices in KZT (Kazakhstani Tenge).

To convert KZT to your currency (let's say USD – US Dollars) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.

UNLIM – Kcell

The UNLIM plans are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access), minutes, and SMS. Some plans feature unlimited data.

UNLIM plans renew on the 1st of each month.

The following UNLIM plans are available:

Price	Plan	Data	Social Media Data 1	On-Net Minutes	Off-Net Minutes	On-Net SMS	Validity	Activation Code
4000 KZT	UNLIM Hit	25 GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	250 minutes	100 SMS	1 month	*166*1*6#
5000 KZT	UNLIM Pro	35 GB 2	Unlimited	Unlimited	350 minutes	100 SMS	1 month	*166*1*7#
8000 KZT	UNLIM Ultra	Unlimited	N/A	Unlimited	250 minutes	100 SMS	1 month	*166*1*7#
10 000 KZT	UNLIM Max	Unlimited 2	N/A	Unlimited	500 minutes	100 SMS	1 month	*166*1*9#

¹ Cisco, Facebook, IMO, Instagram, MS Teams, ОK, Skype, Skype for Business, Telegram, TikTok, TrueConf, Vkontakte, WhatsApp, YouTube & ZOOM @ 1.5 Mbps
² +1 GB roaming data for China, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Maldives, Russia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates & United States

Internet+ – Kcell

The Internet+ plan is a data bundle (without 5G NR access).

The following Internet+ plan is available, which can be activated dialing the activation code:

Price	Data	Validity	Activation Code	Deactivation Code
130 KZT	400 MB	1 day	*444*1*1#	*444*1*4#

Additional Internet Packs – Kcell

The Additional Internet Packs are data add-ons (without 5G NR access).

The following Additional Internet Packs are available, which can be activated dialing the activation code:

Price	Data	Validity	Activation Code
990 KZT	2 GB	30 days	*888*1*3*1#
1490 KZT	4 GB	30 days	*888*1*2*1#
1890 KZT	8 GB	30 days	*888*1*1*1#

TOP – Activ Kazakhstan

The TOP plans are combo bundles with data (with 5G NR access) & minutes.

The following TOP plans are available, which can be activated by dialing the activation code:

Price	Plan	Data	On-Net Minutes	Off-Net Minutes	Validity	Activation Code
2890 KZT	TOP S	7 GB	Unlimited	60 minutes	30 days	*400*1#
3690 KZT	TOP M	13 GB	Unlimited	120 minutes	30 days	*400*2#
4690 KZT	TOP L	25 GB 1	Unlimited	220 minutes	30 days	*400*3#
5690 KZT	TOP XL	35 GB 1	Unlimited	320 minutes	30 days	*400*4#
7990 KZT	TOP UNLIM	Unlimited 1	Unlimited	320 minutes	30 days	*400*5#

¹ +50 GB of 5G data

Internet+ – Activ Kazakhstan

The Internet+ plan is a data-only bundle (without 5G NR access).

The following Internet+ plan is available, which can be activated by dialing the activation code:

Price	Data	Validity	Activation Code
130 KZT	400 MB	1 day	*888*1*4*1*1#

Online – Activ Kazakhstan

The Online Plans are data bundles (without 5G NR access).

These Online plans are available:

Price	Data	Validity	Activation Code
1490 KZT	5 GB	30 days	*888*1*4*2*1*1#OK
1990 KZT	10 GB	30 days	*888*1*4*2*2*1#OK
2990 KZT	20 GB	30 days	*888*1*4*2*3*1#OK
3990 KZT	30 GB	30 days	*888*1*4*2*4*1#OK
4990 KZT	40 GB	30 days	*888*1*4*2*5*1#OK

Online plans auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal or to deactivate a plan, dial *888*1*4*2*7# OK.

Additional Internet Packages – Activ Kazakhstan

The Additional Internet Packages are data add-ons (without 5G NR access). They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.

Additional Internet Packages can be activated by dialing the activation code:

Price	Data	Validity	Activation Code
990 KZT	2 GB	30 days	*888*1*3*1#
1490 KZT	4 GB	30 days	*888*1*2*1#
1890 KZT	8 GB	30 days	*888*1*1*1#

APN/Internet Settings – Kcell & Activ Kazakhstan

• Name: Kcell
• APN: internet

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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Beeline Kazakhstan

Beeline Kazakhstan, officially Beeline Казахстан but just Beeline, is the second-largest mobile operator in Kazakhstan.

Beeline, as a company, is active in Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan & Russia.

Beeline uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2100 MHz (Band 1)

This is what you will learn about Beeline:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Beeline SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* IMEI Registration
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Beeline Kazakhstan

Beeline has fair coverage throughout Kazakhstan.

Because of the geographical structure of Kazakhstan, vast parts of the country have no reception at all or have to deal with 2G coverage.

Below is Beeline's coverage map produced by Speedtest:

However, click here to see Beeline's official coverage map.

SIM Card Price – Beeline Kazakhstan

Beeline SIM cards are available for free in Beeline stores. However, you are required to purchase a plan to get your SIM card. SIM cards are also available at Almaty International Airport and Nursultan Nazarbayev (Astana) Airport.

Dial *100# to access the Beeline menu.

Dial *100# and select option 2 to see your Beeline phone number. The same can be done by dialing *160#.

It is also possible to get a Beeline eSIM.

Note that the Kazakhstani mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Kazakhstan (without personal detail capturing), you can get eSIMs from Holafly (seven options):

1. 3 GB/7 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. 5 GB/10 days
3. 7 GB/15 days
4. 10 GB/20 days
5. 12 GB/30 days
6. 18 GB/60 days
7. 25 GB/90 days
8. Unlimited/5 days (new) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
9. Unlimited/7 days (new) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
10. Unlimited/10 days (new)
11. Unlimited/15 days (new)
12. Unlimited/20 days (new) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

The best part is that you can get 5% off using code PHONETRAVELWIZ on each Holafly eSIM purchase!

No idea what or who Holafly is? Check out my Holafly review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than ten countries over two years.

If you plan on visiting other countries in Europe and others in other regions or continents, consider the Nomad Global eSIM to be used in 109/139 countries worldwide with six variants:

1. 1 GB/7 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. 3 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. 5 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 13^th of September (2023 data only).

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Nomad review!

Remember to use code ADU123 for 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off your first Nomad purchase!

Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Kazakhstan.

You can read about them in my Best Kazakhstan eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.

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IMEI Registration – Beeline Kazakhstan

Beeline IMEI registration can be done by dialing *693#. Then you enter your Passport Number.

If this does not work, you can visit a Beeline store to get IMEI registration done.

Remember, IMEI registration is free, and there is no limit on how many devices you can register.

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Beeline Kazakhstan

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Beeline Kazakhstan

Beeline has only one data-featured prepaid plan: Super plans (combo). It includes data (without 5G NR access) and minutes.

I will list all the prices in KZT (Kazakhstani Tenge).

To convert KZT to your currency (let's say USD – US Dollars) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

The following Super plans are available:

Price	Plan	Data	On-Net Minutes	Off-Net Minutes	Validity
3990 KZT	Super 3990	13 GB	Unlimited	110 minutes	1 month
4990 KZT	Super 4990	25 GB	Unlimited	210 minutes	1 month
5990 KZT	Super 5990	33 GB	Unlimited	310 minutes	1 month
6990 KZT	Super 6990	44 GB	Unlimited	410 minutes	1 month

APN/Internet Settings – Beeline Kazakhstan

• Name: Beeline Internet
• APN: internet.beeline.kz
• Username: @internet.beeline
• Password: beeline

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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Tele2 Kazakhstan

Tele2 Kazakhstan, officially теле2 казахстан but just Tele2, is the smallest mobile operator in Kazakhstan.

Although using the Tele2 brand name, it is not owned by Tele2 from Sweden. Instead, it is run by a local company.

Since 2017, Altel Kazakhstan, not to be confused with Altel Malaysia, has been fully integrated with Tele2. However, the Altel brand is still used for postpaid plans.

Tele2 considers calls to Altel to be on-net calls (most plans give you unlimited on-net minutes to Tele2 numbers, so also to Altel).

Tele2 uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20) & 1800 MHz (Band 3)

This is what you will learn about Tele2:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Tele2 SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* IMEI Registration
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Tele2 Kazakhstan

Tele2 has the best 4G/LTE coverage in Kazakhstan.

However, its nationwide coverage is still fair.

Because of the geographical structure of Kazakhstan, vast parts of the country have no reception at all or have to deal with 2G coverage.

Below is Tele2's coverage map. Do note that this map is more favorable than it should be:

SIM Card Price – Tele2 Kazakhstan

Tele2 SIM cards are available for free in Tele2 stores. However, you are required to purchase a plan to get your SIM card. SIM cards are also available at Almaty International Airport and Nursultan Nazarbayev (Astana) Airport.

Dial *120# to see your Tele2 phone number.

You may have to call 515 to activate your Tele2 SIM card.

It is also possible to get a Tele2 eSIM for 1000 KZT.

ote that the Kazakhstani mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Nomad without personal detail capturing, you can get eSIMs from Nomad (eight options):

1. 1 GB/7 days (powered by three different providers with different prices) (price dropped)
2. 3 GB/15 days (price dropped)
3. 3 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) (price dropped)
4. 5 GB/15 days (price dropped)
5. 5 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) (price dropped)
6. 10 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) (price dropped) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
7. 15 GB/30 days (price dropped) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
8. 20 GB/30 days (price dropped) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

No idea what or who Nomad is? Check out my Nomad review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over two years.

If you plan on visiting other countries in Europe and others in other regions or continents, consider the Nomad Global eSIM to be used in 109/139 countries worldwide with six variants:

1. 1 GB/7 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. 3 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. 5 GB/30 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 13^th of September (2023 data only).

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Nomad review!

Remember to use code ADU123 for 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off your first Nomad purchase!

Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Kazakhstan.

You can read about them in my Best Kazakhstan eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.

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IMEI Registration – Tele2 Kazakhstan

Tele2 IMEI registration can be done by dialing *6914#. Then you enter your Passport Number.

If this does not work, you can visit a Tele2 store to get IMEI registration done.

Remember, IMEI registration is free, and there is no limit on how many devices you can register.

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Tele2 Kazakhstan

Tele2 top-up vouchers are sold in Tele2 stores and many other establishments, such as kiosks, gas stations, and grocery stores.

To top up your Tele2 SIM card, you can use one of the many terminals (CyberPlat, Kacca 24, Kaspi, QIWI & Tenge QIWI).

Do note that these machines are in Kazakh and Russian only.

You may be better off recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards and use Google Translate to navigate this page.

Or you can ask someone around for assistance.

With a Qiwi machine, select Оплата услуг (payment for services), press the Tele2 logo, enter your phone number, select the top-up amount, and insert cash (exact cash preferred – the machines often do not give change).

If all of this sounds too intimidating, visit a Tele2 store – that will be a more straightforward process.

Dial *111# or call 530 to check your Tele2 balance.

You can also top up and check your balance on the Tele2 Казахстан (Tele2 Kazakhstan) app (Android/iOS).

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Tele2 Kazakhstan

Tele2 has three data-featured prepaid plans:

• Выгодный/Profitable (customizable combo)
• Басқа тарифтер/Other Tariffs (combo)
• Add-Ons

I will list all the prices in KZT (Kazakhstani Tenge).

To convert KZT to your currency (let's say USD – US Dollars) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.

Выгодный (Profitable) – Tele2 Kazakhstan

Выгодный (Profitable) is a customizable plan allowing you to set how much data (with 5G NR access), how many off-net minutes and on-net SMS you want – you also get unlimited on-net minutes (to Tele2 & Altel numbers) for 30 days.

The plans are set in price (2790 KZT, 3590 KZT, 4590 KZT & 5590 KZT), but you are free to set up your selection.

2790 Выгодный (Profitable) – Tele2 Kazakhstan

The 2790 Выгодный (Profitable) plan costs 2790 KZT and allows you to select between:

• 1 GB and 11 GB of data
• 10 off-net minutes and 50 off-net minutes
• 0 on-net SMS and 500 on-net SMS

It already includes unlimited on-net minutes (to Tele2 & Altel numbers).

2790 Выгодный (Profitable) can be set up by dialing *122*95# or on the Tele2 Kazakhstan app.

Below are all your options:

3590 Выгодный (Profitable) – Tele2 Kazakhstan

The 3590 Выгодный (Profitable) plan costs 3590 KZT and allows you to select between:

• 1 GB and 22 GB of data
• 10 off-net minutes and 120 off-net minutes
• 0 on-net SMS and 1100 on-net SMS

It already includes unlimited on-net minutes (to Tele2 & Altel numbers).

3590 Выгодный can be set up by dialing *122*96# or on the Tele2 Kazakhstan app.

Below are all your options:

4590 Выгодный (Profitable) – Tele2 Kazakhstan

The 4590 Выгодный (Profitable) plan costs 4590 KZT and allows you to select between:

• 1 GB and 45 GB of data
• 10 off-net minutes and 220 off-net minutes
• 0 on-net SMS and 2200 on-net SMS

It already includes unlimited on-net minutes (to Tele2 & Altel numbers).

4590 Выгодный can be set up by dialing *122*97# or on the Tele2 Kazakhstan app.

Below are all your options:

5590 Выгодный (Profitable) – Tele2 Kazakhstan

The 5590 Выгодный (Profitable) plan costs 5590 KZT and allows you to select between:

• 1 GB and 65 GB of data
• 10 off-net minutes and 320 off-net minutes
• 0 on-net SMS and 3200 on-net SMS

It already includes unlimited on-net minutes (to Tele2 & Altel numbers).

5590 Выгодный can be set up by dialing *122*98# or on the Tele2 Kazakhstan app.

Below are all your options:

Басқа тарифтер (Other Tariffs) – Tele2 Kazakhstan

The Басқа тарифтер (Other Tariffs) are combo plans with data (with 5G NR access) and minutes.

The following Басқа тарифтер are available:

Price	Plan	Data	On-Net Minutes	Off-Net Minutes	On-Net SMS	Validity	Activation Code
990 KZT	Білім	1 GB	N/A	18 KZT/minute	18 KZT/SMS	30 days	*224#
1090 KZT	Жеңілдікті	7 GB	Unlimited	50 minutes	200 SMS	30 days	*121#
2390 KZT	Твои звонки	N/A	Unlimited	100 minutes	18 KZT/SMS	30 days	*471#
2790 KZT	Қосыл-2	5 GB	Unlimited	50 minutes	50 SMS	31 days	*122*79#

Add-Ons – Tele2 Kazakhstan

The Add-Ons are data-only add-ons (with 5G NR access). They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.

The following add-ons are available, which can be activated through the Tele2 app:

Price	Plan	Data	Validity
180 KZT	Тәуліктік шексіздік Шексіз	Unlimited	1 day
890 KZT	Біржолғы интернет-пакет 2 ГБ	2 GB	30 days
1690 KZT	Біржолғы интернет-пакет 8 ГБ	8 GB	30 days

APN/Internet Settings – Tele2 Kazakhstan

• Name: Tele2 Internet
• APN: internet.tele2.kz

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Kazakhstan

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