Amazon has announced a new agreement between its Project Kuiper and Kazakhtelecom with the objective of bringing high-speed satellite internet to communities throughout Kazakhstan, as the company has claimed in a statement.

Under the agreement, Kazakhtelecom will use Project Kuiper’s low Earth orbit satellite network to try to extend connectivity to areas currently lacking service, such as households and communities, businesses and schools. The companies announced the agreement during an event at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, co-hosted by Amazon in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).

In his remarks, President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, highlighted the importance of space-based connectivity to global social and economic development.

“Project Kuiper is designed to provide fast, reliable internet to customers and communities around the world. We’re proud to be working with Kazakhtelecom as our first partner in the Central Asia and Caucasus region. We want to also thank Samruk-Kazyna, the sovereign wealth fund of Kazakhstan, for their partnership and support”, explained Lisa Scalpone, Project Kuiper’s Head of Worldwide Consumer. “Kazakhstan has created exciting opportunities for growth and investment, including through its AI and digital transformation strategy. We look forward helping spur technology adoption and economic growth across the country through our collaboration”.

Project Kuiper is built around a constellation of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit—connected to each other by high-speed optical links that will create a mesh network in space—and linked to a global network of antennas, fiber, and internet connection points on the ground.  Amazon has deployed more than 100 satellites to date and is continuing to increase its production, processing, and launch rates ahead of an initial service rollout.