Currency: tenge (KZT)

Currency code: KZT

Exchange rates: tenge per US dollar - 145.09 (January 2001), 142.13 (2000), 119.52 (1999), 78.30 (1998), 75.44 (1997), 67.30 (1996)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Kazakhstan Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 1.818 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 11,202 (1997)

Telephone system: general assessment: service is poor; equipment antiquated

domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; mobile cellular systems are available in most of Kazakhstan

international: international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay; with other countries by satellite and by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat