Kazakhstan to Continue to Use Code +7

The project to reach an agreement with the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media of the Russian Federation was publicly discussed until October 28. No budget expenditures or changes will be made, and both Russia and Kazakhstan will continue to use the phone code "+7," Orda.kz reports.

Both countries used the 7th zone of the world numbering system under an agreement from 2006. But in 2021, Kazakhstan announced the intended purchase of the "+997" code.

But in June, things changed:

During the discussions with telecom operators on the issue of switching to a new code, it was noted that the switch to a new code is feasible, but entails a number of financial and technological problems,The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry reported.

If the number had been changed, all Kazakhstani users would have had to register again on all existing services. This is why they have decided to leave the code as is. 

In the project discussion, where Kazakhstan declared its intention to remain on the (+7) code, in response to users’ statements that in the event of sanctions restrictions from Russia, Kazakhstan will also be affected, the agency responded:

With regard to the issue of transition to a new code, it is worth noting that the code +997 remains reserved for the Republic of Kazakhstan. Taking into account the ITU directive documents (Recommendation 164.E), in the future, countries will be allocated new international codes only from the three-digit range. Accordingly, over time, there may be a need to transition to a new code. The transition to a new code does not require funds from the republican and local budgets. The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry says.

 Original Author: Alexandra Mokhireva