Altel

What Altel does

Altel is a Kazakhstan-based mobile telecommunications operator providing mobile voice, SMS, and data services over 4G and 5G networks nationwide, with 5G currently live in Almaty. The company is closely associated with Tele2 in Kazakhstan, jointly referred to as 'Altel/Tele2' in regulatory and legal contexts, and operates under telecom license АБА № 000950 issued by the national regulator (АИС РК). Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Almaty with 251-500 employees, Altel serves individual consumers and business customers with a portfolio that includes consumer mobile tariffs (Erkin, Zhanuya/Family, Zheke+ for ported numbers), physical SIM and eSIM activation, a 5G home router line, international roaming in 80-90+ countries, and value-added services such as Altel TV (80 channels), the KITAP Kazakh-language reading platform, and Yandex Plus Multi.

The underlying technology stack is a modern multi-generation mobile network (2G/3G/4G/5G) with VoLTE for voice-over-LTE, IPv6 addressing, and eSIM-based digital onboarding, supported by an interactive coverage map and a self-serve mobile application. Altel distributes through a multi-channel model combining a digital-first mobile app, an e-commerce storefront at eshop.altel.kz, a network of physical retail salons across Kazakhstan, and a dedicated B2B portal at new-business.altel.kz with an enterprise partner program. Revenue mechanics are dominated by recurring monthly mobile subscription fees supplemented by hardware sales (5G routers, smartphones via trade-in), usage-based roaming packages, and subscription or one-time VAS purchases. In February 2026, Altel/Tele2, jointly with Kcell, successfully appealed a 2024 pricing-coordination investigation by the Kazakhstan competition regulator, eliminating that regulatory overhang.

Name

Altel

Legal name

ALTEL

Website

https://altel.kz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Altel is a Kazakhstan-based mobile operator providing 4G/5G voice, data, and home internet services. As part of the Altel/Tele2 ecosystem, it serves individual consumers and businesses nationwide through a mobile app, retail salons, and a B2B portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Almaty

HQ country

Kazakhstan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Mobile Subscription Services: Recurring subscription fees from mobile tariff plans (e.g., Erkin at 0 KZT first month then standard rates, Zhаnuya family plan from 7,995 KZT/month), providing voice, SMS, and data services on 4G and 5G networks.
2. Router and Device Sales: One-time sales of 5G home routers, smartphones, and other hardware through the Altel e-shop, including bundled plans.
3. Roaming Services: Roaming packages and daily internet/minutes services for international travel, with packages such as Mini (3,590 KZT/7 days), Midi (7,590 KZT/15 days), Maxi (13,590 KZT/30 days), and Giga (30,990 KZT/90 days), plus daily internet (1,290 KZT/day) and basic minutes (980 KZT/day).
4. Value-Added Services: Subscription and one-time purchase of VAS including Altel TV (80 channels), KITAP reading platform, Yandex Plus Multi, TRUST services, and one-time internet boosters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Altel is a mobile telecommunications operator in Kazakhstan providing voice, SMS, and mobile data services over 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks, including mobile tariff plans (Erkin, Zhanuya/Family, Zheke+), physical SIM and eSIM activation, 5G home internet routers, international roaming in 80-90+ countries, and value-added services such as Altel TV, KITAP reading platform, and Yandex Plus Multi subscriptions. The company serves individual consumers across Kazakhstan and operates a separate business portal for B2B customers.

Product overview

Altel is a Kazakh telecommunications operator offering a comprehensive mobile and home internet service portfolio. The core offerings include mobile tariff plans such as 'Еркін' (Erkin) with 5G access and the 'Жануя' (Family) plan bundled with 4 online cinema subscriptions. For connectivity, the company provides physical SIM cards, eSIM digital cards, and home 5G routers supporting speeds up to 1 Gbps. International roaming is available across 80-90+ countries with tiered packages. Add-on services include Altel TV (80 channels), KITAP (Kazakh language reading platform), Yandex Plus Multi subscription, trusted payment services, one-time internet boosters, and device trade-in programs. The company also maintains a coverage map showing 5G, 4G, 3G, and 2G network availability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Erkin Mobile Tariff Mobile tariff plan (Erkin) offering 5G internet speed, the ability to carry over unused resources to the next month, and a first-month-free promotion at 0 KZT. Targeted at individual consumers in Kazakhstan seeking affordable entry-level mobile connectivity.
• Zhanuya (Family) Mobile Tariff Family mobile tariff plan (Zhanuya) with shared resources across family members, unlimited 4G/5G internet, unlimited calls within Altel and Tele2 networks, and bundled subscriptions to four online cinemas. Available from 7,995 KZT per month. Targeted at families and households in Kazakhstan.
• Zheke+ Mobile Tariff (Number Porting) Mobile tariff plan designed for customers porting their number from other operators (excluding Tele2), offering 30 GB internet, unlimited calls to Altel and Tele2, 250 minutes to other Kazakhstan mobile networks, and unlimited social/messenger usage at 1,295 KZT per 30 days, with a 50% discount on the first three payments.
• Physical SIM Card Physical SIM card product and replacement service with QR code delivery, enabling customer activation of Altel mobile services on conventional devices.
• eSIM Service Digital embedded SIM (eSIM) service launched on 2020-08-04, allowing users to activate Altel mobile service on compatible devices without a physical SIM card, with activation possible through the mobile application.
• International Roaming Service International roaming service with tiered packages (Mini, Midi, Maxi, Giga) offering data and minutes for trips of 7 to 90 days, plus daily internet (1,290 KZT/day) and basic minutes (980 KZT/day) options. Coverage spans 80-90+ countries including Turkey, Georgia, Egypt, UAE, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Italy, Thailand, and France.
• Altel TV Television service (QINO) offering 80 channels including cinema, music, sports, and entertainment, available as a subscription add-on for Altel mobile subscribers.
• Home 5G Router 5G home internet router supporting 4G and 5G networks with maximum speeds up to 1 Gbps, coverage up to 100 meters, and support for up to 64 connected devices. Sold through the Altel e-shop at 64,990 KZT with a 40% promotional discount (39,990 KZT), bundled with the Zhanuya +3 SIM plan including the first month free.
• Router Tariffs Dedicated mobile tariff plans designed for use with routers and connected devices, providing high data allowances optimized for home internet and device sharing scenarios.
• Altel Mobile Application Mobile application that enables self-serve management of mobile services: eSIM ordering, SIM card replacement, number selection, roaming activation, account management, and resource control without visiting a physical store.
• Yandex Plus Multi Subscription Unified subscription service for all Yandex services, available bundled with certain Altel tariffs or as a standalone add-on for mobile subscribers.
• KITAP Reading Platform Digital reading and listening platform offering books in the Kazakh language, provided as an add-on subscription for Altel mobile subscribers.
• Trusted Payment Service Service that allows subscribers to stay connected and continue using mobile services even when their account balance is zero or insufficient.
• Trusted Gigabytes Service Service that lets subscribers access mobile data immediately and pay for usage afterwards, functioning as deferred-payment data access.
• BOOSTER One-Time Internet Packages One-time internet data packages (boosters) that subscribers can purchase when their primary tariff data allowance has been exhausted.
• Trade-in Device Program Device trade-in program that allows customers to exchange their old devices in return for discounts on new device purchases through Altel.
• Business Portal (new-business.altel.kz) Dedicated business portal and partner program serving B2B customers with enterprise mobile plans, connectivity solutions, SIM and router procurement, and partnership opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5G home router with maximum speed up to 1 Gbps, covering up to 100 meters and supporting up to 64 connected devices
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KcellminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2026Altel/Tele2 and Kcell jointly won a court appeal against a pricing investigation initiated by Kazakhstan's national competition regulator (Almaty branch) in 2024. The investigation concerned suspected price coordination between the companies following customer complaints. The court ruled in favor of the operators, resulting in the termination of the investigation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kazakhtelecom: State-affiliated national telecom incumbent and the entity whose 'optical network' underpins Altel's data transmission. Overlaps with Altel in fixed/mobile services and shares ownership ties via the Kcell JV, making it a structural benchmark and counterparty.
• Three UK: UK mobile operator known for 5G-led FWA and digital-first customer experience. Comparable as a public reference point for Altel's 5G home-router FWA strategy and self-serve mobile-app model, though operating in a far more mature market.
• VEON Ltd: Amsterdam-listed parent of Beeline Kazakhstan and other CIS/emerging-market operators. Provides a relevant public-market benchmark for an emerging-market mobile operator running digital-first, content-bundling, and multi-country growth plays.

Direct peers

• Kcell: One of the largest mobile operators in Kazakhstan, joint venture involving Kazakhtelecom and Telia Company. Direct competitor to Altel in consumer mobile, and was a co-defendant in the same competition-regulator pricing investigation that Altel/Tele2 won in 2026.
• Beeline Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan mobile and fixed-line operator owned by VEON; competes head-to-head with Altel across consumer tariffs, 4G/5G data, and bundled content. Closest comparable in product breadth and segment coverage within the Kazakh MNO market.
• Tele2 Kazakhstan: Sister brand sharing the 'Altel/Tele2' identity; offers mobile services across Kazakhstan on a similar product set. Operationally and commercially integrated with Altel per legal and regulatory references, making it the tightest commercial analog.

Regional players

• Tcell: Leading mobile operator in Tajikistan within the same Central Asian regulatory and cultural context. Comparable as a regional MNO operator addressing similar consumer connectivity needs, though in a different national market.
• Ucell (Uzbekistan): Uzbek mobile operator with active 4G/expansion push. Comparable in scale and stage to Altel; useful for triangulating CIS-market MNO ARPU, digital channel adoption, and competitive intensity.
• Bakcell: Azerbaijan mobile operator with comparable consumer mobile + broadband + VAS portfolio. Provides a CIS-region benchmark for an operator pursuing bundled content, digital self-serve, and 4G/5G transitions similar to Altel.
• MegaCom Kyrgyzstan: Major Kyrgyz mobile operator with similar 4G/expansion profile and CIS tariff structure. Useful peer for benchmarking mid-tier MNO economics in the Central Asian region where Altel operates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuDm9JJe9k0KtSzGyMnge9A
• Facebookfacebook.com/ALTEL4GGSM
• Instagraminstagram.com/altel_kz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/altel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Altel