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In early January 2026، Kazakhtelecom subscribers were taken aback by an unexpected rise in service fees. This increase has particularly unsettled those who had relied on fixed rates under long-term contracts. The company has attributed the changes to a rise in VAT.

Customer Complaints

Bakhytzhan Ashirbekov، a Kazakhstani customer، voiced his concerns on Facebook about the price hike that took effect on January 1. Despite having a three-year fixed tariff agreement، he was surprised to see his rates increase. "Why did my tariff go up if I have a fixed contract؟ When I called the operator، they said it was due to a 4% VAT increase. The company hasn't changed its service costs، so why did all tariffs rise by 4%؟ How does this work؟" he questioned.

Other users have also sought clarification on this issue.

Company's Explanation

In response to the social media outcry، Kazakhtelecom clarified that their tariffs were set without VAT and have remained unchanged since January 1، 2026. The change in payment amounts is solely due to the VAT rate increasing from 12% to 16%. This is not a change in the company's tariff rates، but rather a reflection of the increased tax applied to the base service cost.

The company further explained that the core service cost is subject to taxation، which proportionally raises the total payment amount. They emphasized that "contractual tariffs are legally and voluntarily established،" allowing subscribers to choose between discounted contractual tariffs or non-contractual ones. Kazakhtelecom assured that it operates within the framework of Kazakhstan's legislation and public contract requirements.

Previously، several mobile operators had also announced tariff reviews. The extent of these increases and the operators involved are detailed in this report. Additionally، members of the Mazhilis have called for an investigation into mobile operators due to an average 20% increase in tariffs.

This information was reported by Infohub.kz.