Prior to 2017, telecommunication services were considered natural monopoly in the RK, which mandated operators to perform accounting separation. Relevant provisions were amended as from 01 January 2017. The only remaining natural monopoly service in the sphere of telecommunications is provision for lease or use of cable ducts (with the exception of the activities of small businesses). The Rules for separate accounting of incomes, costs, and assets, used by natural monopolies subjects in the spheres of telecommunications and universal postal services continued to be in force. JSC Kazakhtelecom, which holds SMP in the market, is currently included in the register of natural monopolies for traffic transmission services provided to telecommunication operators, connection to telephone public networks (hereinafter - PSTN) provided to independent telecommunication operators, as well as on the transfer of dedicated telephone channels for rent  to telecommunications operators to connect to PSTN (Annual report for 2023, p. 296: https://telecom.kz/ru/pages/11898/171802). See also, Report of the RK Competition Agency for 2023, indicating that Kazakhtelecom holds 63% of the telecoms market (https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/zk/documents/details/682347?lang=ru). Vertical sepratation for these services is thus required. 