Beeline and ZTE advance Kazakhstan's digital future with Giga City 2.0

• ZTE and Beeline Kazakhstan unveiled Giga City 2.0 – a transformative initiative marking a new era of AI-driven innovation and sustainable connectivity
• ZTE and Beeline Kazakhstan presented joint pilot projects aimed at enhancing network quality, deploying green technologies, and developing smart urban infrastructure, including autonomous hybrid-powered telecom towers along the Astana-Borovoe national highway, the first Magic Pole smart infrastructure solution in Kazakhstan, and others
• Giga City 2.0 initiative builds on the success of Giga City project (2024), accelerating Kazakhstan's digital evolution with cutting-edge, eco-conscious technologies

Astana, Kazakhstan, August 5, 2025 -  ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, and Beeline Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of VEON Group and one of the country's leading telecom operators, launched Giga City 2.0 – Green and AI New Era, highlighting advancements in smart and eco-friendly telecommunications. Building on the success of the Giga City project launched in 2024, the event marked new milestones in Kazakhstan's ongoing digital transformation.

During the event, Beeline Kazakhstan and ZTE unveiled a series of joint pilot projects aimed at enhancing network quality, implementing green technologies, and advancing smart urban infrastructure. The event was held with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Next-Generation connectivity for urban spaces

The first Magic Pole smart infrastructure solution in Kazakhstan has been installed in the center of Astana. Developed by Beeline Kazakhstan and ZTE, the Magic Pole is a multifunctional unit combining a mobile base station and street lighting. The solution optimizes network coverage in dense urban areas and will support smart city services. Its sleek design ensures seamless integration into the urban landscape.

The Magic Pole site installed in the centre of Astana

Seamless connectivity on the highway

Another key initiative is the deployment of autonomous mast-mounted units along the Astana-Borovoe national highway where with no grid connection. Powered by an innovative hybrid power system, that integrates solar panels and wind turbine only, operational  autonomy and exceptional resilience in extreme weather conditions. The advanced hybrid power supply guarantees stable signal coverage even in the most remote sections of the highway, while significantly reducing the environmental impact. The success of this deployment sets a strong foundation for expanding similar solutions across other major highways in Kazakhstan.

The green solar and wind off-grid site installed along the Astana-Borovoe national highway

High-speed internet in shopping malls

As part of the Giga City 2.0 presentation, the Qcell solution was demonstrated at the Mega Silkway shopping mall, showcasing its ability to support high-speed applications, eliminate indoor coverage dead zones, and significantly improves connection quality.

At Mega Silk Way Shopping Mall Beeline shop

Kaan Terzioglu, Chief Executive Officer of VEON Group, said, "From dense urban centers to solar-powered coverage along the major arteries of the country, the technologies that we unveil today respond to the soaring demand in Kazakhstan for high-quality connectivity everywhere, powering services that reach every corner of this vast country. We are delighted to serve our customers - both consumers and enterprises – with solutions that are the backbone of connected society. We thank ZTE and our technology partners for a great collaboration that enables us to stay well ahead of the curve in customer experience." 

Kaan Terzioglu, Chief Executive Officer of VEON Group

Xu Ziyang, Chief Executive Officer of ZTE Corporation, noted: "At ZTE, we believe that real progress is rooted in collaboration. Together with our trusted partner Beeline Kazakhstan and VEON, we are proud to integrate cutting-edge innovations that drive Kazakhstan's digital future. The Giga City 2.0 project exemplifies this vision - combining green technologies, AI, and smart infrastructure to transform urban landscapes and connectivity. Kazakhstan's journey toward digitization serves as a regional benchmark, and ZTE remains fully committed to empowering this transformation at every stage of the way."

Xu Ziyang, Chief Executive Officer of ZTE Corporation

Evgeniy Nastradin, Chief Executive Officer of Beeline Kazakhstan, emphasized: "Today, we showcased three innovative technological solutions in action, all designed to achieve one key goal: delivering wide coverage and stable mobile connectivity wherever our subscribers are. For us, it's essential to leverage cutting-edge technologies to create the best customer experience, no matter the industry challenges."

Evgeniy Nastradin, Chief Executive Officer of Beeline Kazakhstan

In 2024, Beeline and ZTE completed a large-scale modernization of the 4G network in the Akmola and Turkestan regions, including the implementation of FDD Massive MIMO, which led to a 134% increase in throughput.

The Giga City 2.0 initiative demonstrates the partners' steadfast commitment to advancing green technologies, AI-driven solutions, and the sustainable evolution of Kazakhstan's telecommunications infrastructure.