A brave young woman on rooftops and a love story born in the contact center

When we pick up our smartphones, we rarely stop to think about the people behind the tiny signal icon on the screen. For millions of people across Kyrgyzstan, O! has become more than just a mobile operator – it has become their operator. Every day, that reputation is built by thousands of dedicated employees across the country. Let's take a look behind the scenes and meet some of the people who make it all possible.

Burulay Chynybaeva: "Love what you do – and never be afraid to grow alongside the people you love".

Burulay has been part of O! for 14 years, and her personal story has become closely intertwined with her professional journey. While she was still a university student, her future husband gave her an O! SIM card with a phone number that included her birthday. In 2012, she joined the company's Contact Center. During her job interview, she confidently said that in five years she saw herself as both a manager and a wife with a family.

Her dream came true – and even exceeded her expectations. Today, Burulay is a mother of three and Head of the Customer Experience Management Group. At O!, she never had to choose between building a successful career and raising a family. The company gave her the opportunity to become a leader while embracing both roles.

"For me, it's important that every decision is guided by care and respect for people. As the company grew, so did my career. My dreams came true, and new goals appeared along the way. O! is so much more than just a workplace to me."

Tologon Kadyrov. He joined as a student looking for a part-time job – stayed for 15 years and found love.

Tologon joined O! in 2011 almost by accident. As a university student, he urgently needed money to pay for his tuition and planned to leave the Contact Center as soon as he had earned enough. But life had other plans. He fell in love with one of his colleagues, decided to stay, later moved into Sales, traveled across the country on business trips, and eventually joined the Logistics and Procurement Department. The young woman he fell in love with is now his wife and the mother of their children – and she continues to work at O! as well.

"I'm genuinely happy at O!, and that's why I've stayed with the company for so many years. I see myself as a bridge connecting our regional teams with the head office. This company has given me everything: a profession, lifelong friends, and a wonderful family. Growing up in the 1990s, I could never have imagined that my happiness would be waiting for me in one amazing place."

Anastasia Surtaeva. Telecommunications runs in Anastasia's family – she represents the second generation in the profession. After graduating from university with honors, she began her career at a time when the industry was rapidly evolving. Back then, every new task meant starting from scratch, mastering complex base station manuals, and learning through persistence. "There were times when I cried out of frustration because I simply didn't understand what was expected of me or where to find the answers. But I'd wipe away my tears and keep moving forward," Anastasia recalls.

She joined O! 16 years ago and has grown from a manager to Head of the Compliance Group within the Technical Directorate. Along the way, she gained not only professional expertise and confidence but also something equally valuable – a supportive team where every manager is approachable and always ready to help. Perhaps the greatest reward comes from home:

"Whenever my child sees a mobile tower in the city, they excitedly tell their friends, 'My mom is up there working!'"

Gulmira Akieva. When Gulmira joined O! in 2009, she became the first woman on an all-male technical team. Some people were skeptical. Her responsibilities included monitoring power consumption at network sites, which meant climbing onto the rooftops of high-rise buildings to collect meter readings. Although her probation period was expected to last three months, she successfully completed it in just one.

"I still remember how surprised we all were when O! launched its very first advertisement featuring just a single letter. Sometimes I run into former colleagues from my previous job, and they always ask the same question: 'You're still there?!' I proudly tell them that I simply can't imagine my life without my O! family. What I value most is that, despite the company's rapid growth, it has never stopped caring about the comfort and well-being of its employees."

Almaz Ibraev: "Seeing the results of your work live every single day".

When Almaz joined O! in 2010, it was a deliberate decision to challenge himself professionally. Having already worked on demanding telecommunications projects in Kyrgyzstan and abroad, including building network infrastructure in harsh mountainous terrain, he chose to become part of a young, ambitious company with big aspirations. Over the past 16 years, he has grown alongside O! as the company evolved into one of the country's leading telecom operators. Today, Almaz is responsible for ensuring reliable transmission links to the company's base stations – an essential part of delivering fast, stable mobile connectivity.

"Millions of people communicate with each other, study, pay their bills, and browse the internet thanks to what our team accomplishes every day. I'm proud to know that my work contributes to something so meaningful."

Every one of these stories reminds us that being the people's operator is much more than a slogan. It's a living community built on dedication, perseverance, and genuine care. So the next time you see the bright O! logo on your phone, remember that behind it are real people who put their hearts into keeping millions connected with the people who matter most.

·       Browse current openings in the Jobs at О! section.

·       Send your CV to hr@nurtelecom.kg

KR SCITC SCA Licenses: NUR Telecom LLC: #16-0062-КР, #16-0063-КР dd. 06.12.2016