Kazakhtelecom will begin construction of a 50 MW artificial intelligence data center in Pavlodar in the second quarter of next year. The project will be implemented within a data processing hub in the region, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Development and Artificial Intelligence Zhaslan Madiyev announced at an extended government meeting.
According to the minister, the availability of cross-border telecommunications infrastructure and affordable electricity are key prerequisites for establishing an international computing power hub.
The project is already underway. A land plot has been allocated in Pavlodar region, and 300 MW of capacity has been reserved from the GRES-1 power plant. Negotiations with international investors are ongoing. However, the government does not intend to delay the process, Madiyev stressed, confirming that Kazakhtelecom will independently launch the first 50 MW AI data center next year.
The planned facility is expected to have ten times greater capacity than the new state data center, including its supercomputer.
Design and construction work will be carried out in stages between 2026 and 2028. Authorities say the initiative will lay the foundation for a new digital economy while strengthening the resilience of public information systems, including full backup capabilities to ensure uninterrupted operation during emergencies.
