Why is mobile service getting more expensive but not better? Minister responds

Tengrinews.kz - Kazakhstan’s Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry, Zhaslan Madiyev, was asked why mobile operators keep raising their tariffs while service quality fails to improve.
“Kazakhstanis complain about poor service quality. Meanwhile, mobile operators raise tariffs and just inform customers after the fact. Why doesn’t the quality of service improve along with these higher tariffs?” a Tengrinews.kz correspondent asked.
Madiyev replied that service quality issues “sometimes arise” because of so-called white spots — areas without coverage.

“The reasons are new residential areas, urban expansion, new buildings. Mobile operators need to move quickly to set up base stations, connect power, and build antenna-mast structures in those areas. That takes some time. If there are complaints, citizens can report through the eOtinish system. We respond, investigate, issue instructions, and fine them if they fail to comply,” the minister explained.

He added that the ministry continuously works on this, aiming “to steadily improve service quality for citizens.”

“We monitor them [the operators]. We have a radio frequency service that measures quality. There are regulations for minimum thresholds, such as megabits per second and other quality indicators. If they break the rules, we act. We are also working to tighten fines — introducing measures to increase penalties by 3 to 5 times in the regulatory acts. That work is ongoing,” Madiyev said.

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