Photo: sn-gazeta.ru
Kyrgyzstan is introducing a temporary, full state monopoly on the transmission and routing of international internet traffic. President Sadyr Japarov signed the relevant decree, which comes into force on August 15, 2025, and will remain in effect until August 14, 2026.
For the duration of the measure, the local company ElCat will hold exclusive rights to deliver and transmit international internet traffic within Kyrgyzstan, as well as manage the transit of international data through the country.
ElCat will also receive 100 percent of the shares of the communications provider Aknet, which supplies internet access to 90 percent of the country’s universities. All other operators and providers handling international internet traffic are required to transfer their contracts to ElCat within two months.
Officials say the policy is intended to improve the management of digital and telecommunications infrastructure, streamline traffic, and enhance connection quality.
On the same day, July 28, President Japarov signed a law titled “On the Prohibition of Access to Websites Containing Pornographic Content in the Internet Space of the Kyrgyz Republic.” According to the document, such content is considered distributed from the moment it first appears in Kyrgyz cyberspace or once relevant information is received by a designated state authority.
Internet service providers, hosting companies, and website owners are required to block access to content that includes pornographic elements. The law is aimed at “protecting society’s moral and ethical values, as well as the spiritual and moral health of individuals.”
Earlier, Japarov also signed a decree on modernizing the system for identifying mobile phones and other devices connected to the network. The measure is intended to simplify the registration process and resolve issues that have previously sparked public dissatisfaction.
