KION Streaming Platform Enters the Kyrgyz Market
The project will be launched in partnership with Skynet Telecom and its online cinema. Russian companies continue to successfully expand the export of digital services.
Stable Demand
Russian digital entertainment services have long moved beyond their domestic market. They are actively expanding into the CIS region, where a large Russian-speaking audience guarantees stable demand. Recently, another major step was taken in this direction.
MTS Media announced that its flagship online cinema KION will soon become available to residents of Kyrgyzstan. The project is being implemented in partnership with local provider Skynet Telecom, with a memorandum of cooperation signed at the Kyrgyz-Russian Economic Forum.
Under the agreement, KION will be integrated into Skynet’s Easy.OK online cinema platform. At launch, Kyrgyz users will have access to around 200 films and series, including original projects from the KION Originals lineup, available through a dedicated subscription. Over time, the content library will steadily expand.
Skynet Telecom is one of Kyrgyzstan’s leading internet providers and digital TV operators, ranking among the country’s top three service providers. The company serves over 100 communities across six regions of the republic.
“Partnership with KION is a strategic step that allows us to expand the value of our services and strengthen our market position, offering customers more convenience and opportunities. It is also an example of mutually beneficial cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Russia, aimed at developing digital services and sharing technological expertise,” said Ruslan Egorov, Skynet Telecom’s Business Development Director.
Beyond Movies
The Russian platform also plans to introduce its e-book service 'Stroki' to the Kyrgyz market. Subscribers will be able to register using local numbers. The service provides access to over 250,000 e-books and audiobooks, as well as comics and podcasts. Its catalog includes works by Kyrgyz and international authors, travel guides, popular science publications, and research.
“Until now, our services outside Russia were limited to Belarus, where MTS subscribers can access MTS Music streaming. Now the geography of our media services is expanding to include Kyrgyzstan, where we see strong demand for Russian-language content. Kyrgyzstan also leads the EAEU countries in GDP growth,” said Sofia Mitrofanova, CEO of MTS Media.
Russian Services Expand Footprint
KION officially launched on April 20, 2021, essentially a rebranding of the platform previously known as MTS TV, which had been operating for six years. On April 18, 2025, MTS Media announced the creation of a unified entertainment ecosystem by merging management of the KION cinema, MTS Music streaming, and Stroki e-book service into the KION content cluster. The company plans to eventually launch a single application covering all three services.
Kyrgyzstan is one of the fastest-growing telecom markets in the CIS and is seen as highly attractive to Russian companies. Currently, nine Russian online cinemas already operate there, including Ivi and Kinopoisk (via Yandex Plus subscription). Last year, Rostelecom also announced plans to enter the Kyrgyz market with its Wink platform.
Not Without Challenges
Expansion into Kyrgyzstan does face hurdles. In late July, the Kyrgyz government imposed a one-year state monopoly on international internet traffic, granting exclusive rights to the nationalized operator Elcat. This introduces certain limitations for foreign companies working in the market.
Nonetheless, MTS Media’s entry into Kyrgyzstan signals the readiness of Russian platforms to export services. Their quality is strong enough to compete with offerings from other countries. If successful, MTS Media could use this experience to expand into other EAEU member states.
