Product info
Almaty eSIM plans
| Unlimited data · 5 days | $19.99 | Buy eSIM |
| Ohayu recommendsUnlimited data · 10 days | $34.99 | Buy eSIM |
| Unlimited data · 15 days | $47.99 | Buy eSIM |
| 3GB prepaid eSIM · 14 days | $7.49$2.50 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 5GB prepaid eSIM · 30 days | $10.49$2.10 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 10GB prepaid eSIM · 30 days | $16.49$1.65 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 15GB prepaid eSIM · 60 days | $21.49$1.43 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 20GB prepaid eSIM · 90 days | $25.99$1.30 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 50GB prepaid eSIM · 90 days | $66.79$1.34 / GB | Buy eSIM |
You can install your eSIM before the trip and activate it when you arrive in Kazakhstan. Validity starts after eSIM activation.
Plan details
How much mobile data you need
What's the best eSIM for Almaty?
A few days – 3 GB
Maps, ride-hailing, the mountains.
A week or two – 10 GB
Charyn, Kolsai, Shymbulak.
Central Asia – 20 GB
Separate plans for the neighbours.
Working from Almaty – Unlimited
A long stay with a laptop attached.
Coverage and network
Coverage city and the Tian Shan
Kazakhstan mobile networks
Kazakhstan averages about 90 Mbps and Almaty around 117. The city sits against the Tian Shan mountains, and the transition from well-covered streets to nothing at all happens within a 40-minute drive.
Speedtest Global Index · Mobile · Almaty · June 2026
Download
116.91 Mbps
Upload
19.42 Mbps
Latency
16 ms
Global rank
#80 of 98
Almaty and Kazakhstan, specifically
- Central Almaty, Medeu, Dostyk: Reliable 4G with 5G in parts. The grid layout and wide Soviet-era avenues help.
- Shymbulak and Medeu: The ski resort, the ice rink and the cable car are covered. Above the top station on Talgar pass it drops away.
- Big Almaty Lake and the gorges: Half an hour from the city and coverage goes as you climb into the gorge. The road is rough and the area is a border zone in places requiring permits - worth checking before you set off.
- Charyn Canyon and the steppe: Three hours east. Coverage follows the highway and disappears in the canyon itself. The steppe between towns has long empty stretches.
- The train to Astana: Coverage along the line and gaps across the emptier stretches - it is a very long journey through very little.
All of Kazakhstan
The plan covers the whole country, which is the ninth largest on earth. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and China across the borders are separate plans.
How to install eSIM
Connected in 3 steps
- 01
Buy before you fly
Choose your data plan before your trip.
- 02
Download & install
Log in to your account, tap your eSIM, and follow the on-screen instructions.
- 03
Land & activate
Activate when you arrive in Kazakhstan. Turn on roaming for the eSIM and it connects to a local network.
Before you buy, make sure your phone supports eSIM — see Ohayu compatible devices list or dial *#06#. It's a free request to your phone's settings. If you see the EID number — your phone is eSIM-compatible.
Arriving in Almaty
Airport Wi-Fi at ALA
Almaty's airport has free terminal Wi-Fi. Many flights here land in the early hours, when the operator desks are shut and the taxi situation outside is best handled with a ride-hailing app rather than a conversation.
Side by side
Almaty eSIM Comparison
Indicative comparison based on publicly listed Kazakhstan plans as of August 2026. Competitor pricing and policies change - check their sites for current terms.
Frequently asked questions
Will my phone be blocked in Kazakhstan? The IMEI rule
Only if you use a local SIM. Since 2019 Kazakhstan has required handsets on local networks to be registered against its IMEI database, and foreigners buying a Kazakh SIM have to submit their passport and device details. Devices roaming on foreign SIMs are explicitly excluded from the requirement.
An Ohayu plan roams as a foreign subscriber, so the register does not apply and there is nothing to file. Buy a local SIM and you are inside the rule, and travellers do report verification failures.
Where to buy a SIM card in Almaty?
Kcell and Beeline have shops in the malls and at the airport. Beyond the IMEI step you will need your passport. Kcell generally has the better reach if you are heading out of the city.
Is there coverage in the mountains?
At Shymbulak, Medeu and the cable car, yes. Beyond the top station and up the gorges towards Big Almaty Lake it goes quickly, and some of that area is a restricted border zone needing a permit. Download maps, check whether your route needs paperwork, and do not rely on a phone for the descent.
eSIM not working in Almaty?
Up a gorge or out on the steppe, gaps are genuine and long. In the city, confirm the phone is drawing data from the Ohayu line with roaming on, then cycle Airplane mode. Chat and support@ohayu.com are open 24/7.
