The Minister of Digital Development explained why Kazakhstan has retained the phone code +7 instead of changing it.

Today, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the joint use of the telephone code +7 in the global numbering system.

Why Kazakhstan decided to retain the +7 code, contrary to earlier announcements, was explained by the head of the Ministry of Digital Development, Jaslan Madiev, in the Senate corridors.

“Regarding sanctions (against Russia globally – ed.), there is no need for concern; no sanctions issues correlate (with the code – ed.).

Yes, we share the seven, but within this seven, we have additional numbering that belongs solely to Kazakhstan. These are +77, +76, +75, and we are currently planning to negotiate an additional +70.

Therefore, this is a matter only for Kazakhstan. As a consumer, as a user of various social platforms, applications, banking apps, and bank accounts, I believe it would be quite inconvenient to replace all numbers in the phone book, applications, and everywhere else. I think citizens will share this position," - stated the minister.

He added that the experts consulted by Kazakhstan on this matter also believe that the idea of changing the telephone code for the country "is not a good one."

In September 2021, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan announced the potential transition to its own national international telephone code. It became known that instead of the telephone code +7, which is also assigned to Russia, our country reserved +997 with the Bureau of Standardization of Telecommunications of the International Telecommunication Union.

Later, the Ministry stated that if Kazakhstan transitions to a new international telephone code, citizens would have to rewrite all numbers in their phone books and re-register in services linked to their phone numbers.

In October 2021, the Vice Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry, Askat Orazbek, stated that changing the telephone code to +997 was his initiative.

According to the Vice Minister, reserving a new code for our country is "not a whim, but a pressing necessity," as the agreement to provide the code to Kazakhstan was prepared by Russia, and in the event of any disagreements, the contract can be terminated within six months.

In March, then-head of the Ministry of Digital Development, Bagdat Musin, stated that during his visit to the USA, he proposed to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to grant Kazakhstan the code +77.

However, in November of last year, the Ministry of Digital Development clarified that during discussions with telecommunications operators regarding the transition to a new code, it was noted that while the transition is feasible, it entails a number of financial and technological issues. Therefore, experts re-engaged in negotiations with the International Telecommunication Union and decided to keep the code +7 unchanged.

In June, the new Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry, Jaslan Madiev, shared his opinion on the change of numbers.

“Consultations were held with telecommunications operators, and there was a general consensus that, considering the financial-economic and technical feasibility, it is indeed best to remain with +7,” explained Madiev.

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