The Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition (APDC) has identified instances of competition violations in the internet services market.
According to the agency's press service, JSC Kazakhtelecom and LLP Kar-Tel (Beeline) currently hold a dominant position in the wired internet market.
"During the analysis, the Agency identified barriers that hinder the access of alternative telecoms operators to multi-apartment residential buildings when providing services, and also complicate obtaining information on technical conditions for connection to cable sewer networks", the statement reads.
It is noted that resolving these barriers will allow consumers to independently choose their internet service operator. Relevant recommendations for eliminating the violations have been sent to the authorised state bodies.
At the same time, based on the results of the analysis, signs of setting a monopolistically high price for the product were identified in the actions of JSC Kazakhtelecom. In this regard, the APDC has launched an investigation into violations of competition protection legislation.
For context, in May of last year, the Chairman of the APDC, Marat Omarov, stated that the agency suspected three mobile operators in the Republic of Kazakhstan (Kcell, Tele2/Altel, Beeline) of colluding to raise tariffs. At the time, he noted that an inspection into them was concluding, results were being finalised, and certain legal proceedings had already begun.
Later, the APDC issued a warning to JSC Kazakhtelecom following the company's announcement of tariff increases, including for home internet. In October, the APDC suspended the investigation into the telecoms operators pending the outcome of the court cases.
In January of this year, the APDC began an inspection of the mobile operator Beeline (LLP Kar-Tel) in connection with the increase in wired internet tariffs from February 2025. The agency has requested documentation from the operator to analyse the justification for the price increase.