OREANDA-NEWS. March 4, 2010. “The implementation of pilot project on providing cellular services of 4G generation will be launched in Astana in the current year,” the head of State Agency for Information and Communication (AIC) Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev said.

“It is planned to launch a pilot project in Astana in 2010 – a provision of the new 4G generation,” he said during “government hour” in the Majilis of Parliament on Monday in Astana.

According to the head of the AIC, the agency will be decided how to issue frequencies of 4G to the state and what conditions will be put forward to operators.

Kuanishbek Yessekeyev reminded cellular services will be provided in the format of 3G in the near future in Astana and Almaty.

He also reminded that all three GSM-operators in Kazakhstan will be provided by 20 MHz frequency for the deployment of the 3G network.

There are three operators of mobile communication of GSM standard: GSM Kazakhstan (with trademarks K'cell and Activ, its shareholders are Finnish-Swedish-Turkish FinTur and “Kazakhtelecom”), “Kar-Tel” (a trademark of Beeline, controlled by Russia “VimpelCom”) and “Mobile Telecom Service” LLP (provides services under the brand NEO).

Technologies (based on Wi-Fi and WiMAX) are referred to 4G mobile communication, which allow to deliver data in mobile networks with a speed above 100 Mbit / sec.

For comparison, the most common worldwide standard for mobile communications is GSM (2G), which has a limit data transfer speed in 240 Kbit / sec.

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a technology of broadband wireless communications, complementing DSL lines and cable technologies as an alternative solution to the problem of “last mile” at large distances.

The WCDMA standard (UMTS pan-European standard) is a basis of 3G system.

The 3G technology provides data rates up to 2 Mbit/sec and offers subscribers a range of next generation services: mobile TV, video calls and video conferencing.

The 3G mobile communication standard is compatible with an existing GSM-infrastructure, which will allow GSM subscribers to switch to the new standard without changing the operator and telephone number.

Kazakhstan's population exceeds 16 million, the number of mobile users in the country more than 15.7 million subscribers.