Calling Kazakhstan and saving money is not a problem. It is enough to choose the right tariff plan or activate an option that reduces the cost of calls. Especially for this, we have collected tariffs from all Russian operators, including virtual ones, in one review. Along with the tariffs, suitable options are presented along with commands for connection. In conclusion, we will tell you how to reduce the cost of calls to Kazakhstan by 5-10 times.
- Review of favorable tariffs for calls to Kazakhstan from Russia
- Services and promotions in roaming
- How to make cheap calls to Kazakhstan - IP telephony
- Skype, Viber, WhatsApp
How to connect and disconnect
In order for communication to be available abroad, it must be activated.
There are two ways to activate roaming on Active Kazakhstan:
- Send an SMS to number 3330, write DA in the text of the message.
- Dial *145# or *123*5# from your phone. Next, select 1 from the menu.
How to disable roaming on Active - you need to send an SMS with the text NET to number 3330.
You can connect and disconnect the service free of charge. Its connection is possible only when located in Kazakhstan.
You can find out the availability of connected additional services in roaming by dialing *145*4# or through consultants on WhatsApp and Telegram.
While roaming, it is not always possible to top up your mobile phone balance, so it is recommended to top up before going abroad.
The service is active only with a positive balance. In order to avoid unplanned expenses, it is recommended that you disable auto-update of smartphone applications while abroad.
The cost of Aktiv KZ roaming for each country, including Russia, can be viewed on the official website here: https://activ.kz/ru/roaming/countries
How to make calls while roaming
In order to reach the right person while roaming, you need to dial the phone number correctly:
- Within the Kcell and activ networks: dial +7 before the operator code in the number. For example: +7 702 XXX XX XX.
- To landline numbers: +7 and city code and subscriber number.
- To numbers of operators in other countries and the host country: + country code, city code and subscriber number.
- To numbers of other mobile operators: + country code, operator code and subscriber number.
- Voicemail: +77012000100
If you start dialing a number with the number 8, the connection will be established through satellite operators, whose prices are much higher.
How to top up your balance abroad
You can top up your cell phone balance abroad in the following ways:
- Any bank card on the website epay.activ.kz.
- Kazkommertsbank card on the homebank.kz website.
- Payment cards purchased in Kazakhstan. Activating the card is very simple, just dial *110*code numbers on the card#.
- In QIWI terminals, when located in Russia.
- Use operator options: Mobile assistance, Pay for me, Auto Extra Balance, Call me.
You can check your roaming balance using the combination *111# and press “YES”/“Submit”.
Internet in roaming
In order to use mobile Internet abroad, you need to register on the network:
For Android devices:
- Through the “Settings” menu, select dual mode, for example LTE/3G/2G.
- Select an operator through manual search mode. It is possible that manual search will need to be done several times, for example, if the connection is lost.
For gadgets on iOS:
- In manual search mode, through the Settings menu, select automatic search for operators.
- If registration on the network does not work, then you need to turn off 4G and restart your smartphone.
Before going abroad, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the tariffs and promotions for roaming Internet on activ.kz.
If the Internet is required while roaming, then you need to register an internet access point in the APN settings. After that, enable data transfer.
If you don’t need mobile Internet abroad, then you need to disable data roaming to avoid money being debited from your account due to your smartphone settings.
The easiest way to connect MTS roaming in Egypt
It is worth taking care of the transition to roaming gradation even before leaving Russia. It allows you to use your type of communication and SIM card anywhere in the world. In the absence of MTS networks, communication is automatically provided by partner networks on the basis of an agreement with Mobile Telesystems.
To do this, just activate. Almost all operator's TPs have this option enabled by default. But you can check before your trip by studying the terms of your tariff, as well as sending a command request in the format *111*2157#.
Roaming during sea travel and on board aircraft
On board aircraft and on sea tourist vessels, the service is provided by the operator’s partners. The cost of services is very high:
- Incoming calls – 985 tenge per minute;
- Call to Kazakhstan – 1750 tenge/min;
- One minute of conversation with subscribers from other countries – 1950 tenge;
- One SMS message – 350 tenge;
- GPRS – 3750 tenge.
Uncontrolled consumption of GPRS abroad will significantly increase costs, so it is recommended to disable all automatic phone application updates.
Skype, Viber, WhatsApp
With messengers, everything is simple - their users can make free internal calls from different parts of the world. They are also available to residents of Kazakhstan. To establish a connection, just install WhatsApp, Viber or Skype on your smartphone and go through a simple registration. The Kazakh subscriber performs similar actions - now you can call, exchange files, photos, videos and even make video calls.
Viber and Skype messengers allow you to call regular mobile phones and landlines. Viber users have access to prepaid packages from 4.99 to 24.99 USD, which is from 31 to 154 minutes of conversation (about 10 rubles / min). The cost of calls via Skype starts from 9 cents per minute or about 5.5 rubles per minute. It turns out that it is most profitable to call Kazakhstan via IP telephony.
Additional services in roaming
Active services that allow you to save money while traveling.
Hello, abroad
The Hello Abroad Asset service allows you to call from a mobile phone to 15 countries around the world at reduced prices.
Call costs are shown in the image below. The lowest price for roaming Active Kazakhstan to Russia - only 25 tenge per minute of conversation:
The subscription fee is charged at the time of connection and amounts to 200 tenge. The next write-off will occur in 30 days from 00:00 to 02:00 Nur-Sultan (Astana) time.
- Connection is free - *575*1#
- Shutdown - *575*2#
If you do not disable the option when it is no longer needed, it will automatically renew on a monthly basis.
Around the world
- Around the world 20 - 20 minutes of incoming voice traffic, 20 SMS and 500 MB of Internet traffic for 2990 tenge. Validity period – 7 days.
- Around the world 35 for 10 days - 35 minutes of incoming calls, 35 SMS and 1 GB of Internet traffic. Subscription fee – 4990 tenge.
Connection: *381*1#, then listen to menu information.
Disabling is available via the USSD command *381*2#, then through the menu.
From December 13, as part of this service, new packages are available for 20 days:
- 500 MB + 20 min for 1990 tenge.
- 1 GB + 20 min for 3990 tenge.
Surfing
Mobile Internet packages at an attractive price, for a period of 7 days: 200 MB for 2900 tenge, 500 MB for 4990 tenge, 1 GB for 7900 tenge.
Surfing connection is available by calling: *177*1#, then follow the menu.
Disable surfing: *177*2#, then follow the menu instructions.
Review of favorable tariffs for calls to Kazakhstan from Russia
The Big Four includes four mobile operators - MegaFon, Beeline, Tele2 and MTS. They have tariffs for calls within Russia and abroad, and the latter allow you to call Kazakhstan at reduced rates. As for popular package and per-minute tariffs, options are provided for them.
Megaphone
The standard cost of calls to Kazakhstan on most MegaFon tariffs is 39 rubles/min. A special tariff plan “Warm Welcome Promotion” will help reduce costs. It is provided with a subscription fee of 550 rubles/month, which includes:
- Unlimited calls to MegaFon numbers throughout Russia;
- Unlimited mobile Internet with the possibility of free unlimited distribution;
- 100 minutes to numbers of MegaFon of Tajikistan, Ucom of Armenia, MegaCom of Kyrgyzstan, Kievstar of Ukraine, as well as to numbers of all operators in Russia, China and Uzbekistan;
- Mobile television with a package of “Warm Welcome” channels and four films.
Calls to Kazakhstan using the “Warm Welcome Promotion” tariff cost 6.5 rubles/min, regardless of the operator. Calls to other countries cost from 5 rubles/min. To switch, use your personal account or send the USSD command *105*1486#.
The tariff plan is aimed at Russian subscribers and guests of Russia. But it may not be suitable for those who call local numbers more often. The “Call to all countries” option has been prepared especially for them, which works with most tariff plans. It is provided with a subscription fee of 2.1 rubles/day (63 rubles for the first 30 days one-time), calls to Kazakhstan cost 8.5 rubles/min. The option is valid only in the home region. To connect, use your personal account or send the USSD command *105*0081#.
For tariff lines “Turn on!” and “All inclusive” there is a “Warm welcome +” option. The subscription fee is 2 rubles/day, the first connection is free, each subsequent connection is 30 rubles. The option works throughout Russia and reduces the cost of calls to Kazakhstan to 5 rubles/min. To connect, use your personal account or send the USSD command *105*1503#.
Beeline
The cost of calls to Kazakhstan on most Beeline tariffs is 35 rubles/min. On the tariffs “First Gigabits”, “Unlim”, “Family”, “Super Family”, “Super Family +” and other tariff plans with a prepaid payment system, the free “Welcome” option is automatically activated. It reduces the cost of calls to 3.5 rubles/min to Beeline numbers and to 20 rubles/min to numbers of other Kazakhstani operators. The option is valid indefinitely and is available to everyone who connected or switched to the above tariffs from October 3, 2021.
The network also operates a “Per-Second” tariff plan. Here, the cost of calls to Beeline Kazakhstan numbers is 12 rubles/min, to numbers of other telecom operators – 24 rubles/min. There is no subscription fee for the tariff plan. As for the “Absolutely Everything” premium tariff, it already includes 600 minutes to any international numbers. The monthly fee is 6000 min/month.
There are no additional options on Beeline that further reduce the cost of calls to Kazakhstan. Tariff plans can be changed exclusively through your personal account.
Tele 2
The Tele2 operator has not had low prices for international calls for a long time. The cost of calls to Kazakhstan on current tariff plans is 30 rubles/min. The “Simple Geography” option with a subscription fee of 2 rubles/day will help you save money. It reduces the cost of calls to mobile and landline phones in Kazakhstan to 15 rubles/min. The cost of calls to other countries is from 0.8 rubles/min, depending on the direction. To connect, use your personal account or send the USSD command *155*51#.
MTS
The cost of calls to Kazakhstan on most MTS tariffs is 35 rubles/min. Switching to a special tariff plan “Your Country” will help reduce costs. It is designed for calls to numbers in the CIS and Asian countries. The tariff is provided without a monthly fee; it does not include minutes and traffic packages. Calls to Kazakhstani numbers will cost subscribers of the “Your Country” tariff plan 10 rubles/min. To switch to a tariff plan, use your personal account or send the USSD command *111*182*1#. The cost of calls to other countries is from 3 rubles/min, depending on the direction.
If you don’t want to change your tariff plan, use the “Profitable international calls” option. It reduces the cost of calls to dozens of countries. The option is provided with a subscription fee of 75 rubles/month, the cost of calls to Kazakhstan is 15 rubles/min. A prerequisite is connection or “Easy roaming and international access”. The option works throughout Russia when registered in MTS networks. To connect, use your personal account or send the USSD command *111*902#.
For subscribers using “Smart” tariff plans, the “Beneficial calls to other countries” option has been prepared. It is provided without subscription or connection fees. The option reduces the cost of calls to numbers of the Kazakh operator Kcell to 10 rubles/min (calls are made to numbers with codes +7701, +7702, +7775, +7778). The option works throughout Russia when registered in MTS networks. To connect, use your personal account or send the USSD command *111*965#.
Virtual operators
The cost of calls to Kazakhstan from Russian virtual operators is fixed:
- Tinkoff Mobile – 29 rubles/min;
- SberMobile – 30 rub/min;
- Danycom – 30 rub/min.
These operators do not have modifier options that allow you to save on calls.
Feedback from our reader
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