Kyrgyzstan hands 25 Starlink terminals to schools in remote-area internet push

Kyrgyzstan handed 25 Starlink satellite-internet terminals to schools in various regions of the country on Thursday, with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Ulan Mamatkanov attending the handover ceremony (Kabar, https://en.kabar.kg/news/kyrgyzstan-continues-connecting-schools-to-starlink-satellite-internet/; 24.KG, https://24.kg/en/article/high-speed-starlink-internet-to-be-introduced-in-kyrgyzstans-schools).

The equipment was provided by the company free of charge and transferred to the schools to ensure access to high-speed satellite internet, with the initiative aimed at expanding access in remote and hard-to-reach areas (Kabar; 24.KG).

The move forms part of Kyrgyzstan’s consistent state policy of developing digital infrastructure and extending modern communication services to educational, medical and other social facilities, including in remote areas (Kabar).

“Our goal is to ensure that every student, whether they live in a city or a remote village can access modern educational resources,” Mamatkanov said, calling bridging the digital divide one of the state’s top priorities (Kabar).

A pilot project to introduce satellite internet was launched in Kyrgyzstan in 2025, and regulatory acts have since been adopted establishing the framework for ongoing use of modern satellite communication technologies (Kabar; 24.KG). The work is being carried out under President Sadyr Zhaparov, with the support of Cabinet Chairman and Presidential Administration chief of staff Adylbek Kasymaliev (Kabar).

The government said it will continue connecting schools, medical facilities and other social institutions to modern communication services, prioritising regions with limited internet access (Kabar).