The governments of Kazakhstan and Russia have signed an agreement on the joint use of the telephone code +7. The document regarding this has been published in the information-legal system of regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as reported by a correspondent from the business information center Kapital.kz.
"The government decrees to approve the attached draft Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Russian Federation on the joint use of the numbering of the 7th zone of the global numbering," the document states.
The resolution comes into effect from the day it is signed.
In November 2023, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry explained that Kazakhstan reserved the international telephone code +997 in 2021 for obtaining a separate code. "During discussions with telecommunications operators regarding the transition to the new code, it was noted that while it is feasible, it poses several financial and technological challenges," the ministry reported. All subscribers will need to update their information in all services for receiving government and banking services, social networks, and various applications. Consequently, there is a high likelihood of disruptions and negative experiences during the transition period. "The ministry has conducted further negotiations with the International Telecommunication Union, and it has been decided to retain the international code +7 unchanged."