Emergency Services in Kazakhstan to Gain Authority to Track User Locations

The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan has developed legislative amendments to increase response speed during emergencies. These norms are part of a draft law focused on the development of the telecommunications market and data processing centers.

According to the bill, emergency services will now be granted the ability to determine the location (geolocation) of citizens. This measure is designed to reduce the arrival time of rescue units when there is a direct threat to human life and health.

Zhaslan Madiyev, the Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry, stated that the "112" service will be provided with location tracking capabilities on a free-of-charge basis. The Minister emphasized that this step will radically improve the quality of assistance provided to the public in urgent situations.

Furthermore, the document includes several other critical norms for the development of the communications sector:

 Infrastructure Expansion: Authorization will be granted to build communication lines within specially protected natural areas. This will allow high-quality connectivity for remote settlements, rural areas, and tourist sites.

 Streamlined Procedures: The process for allocating land plots for the construction of communication facilities will be optimized. Specifically, the requirement to mandatory include infrastructure facilities in general plans and detailed planning projects will be removed.

These legislative changes aim to increase the accessibility of telecommunications networks and strengthen the national digital security system.