Aztelekom and Huawei Join Forces for Nationwide Broadband Access in Azerbaijan

Nationwide Broadband in Azerbaijan

In a significant milestone for Azerbaijan's digital infrastructure, Aztelekom, a part of AZCON Holding, in collaboration with Huawei, has announced that 99.7% of the nation is now covered under the ambitious 'Online Azerbaijan' broadband initiative. This project aims to provide comprehensive broadband connectivity to approximately three million households and businesses across urban and remote areas. Remarkably, in the last two years alone, two million new connections have been established, bringing high-speed internet access to nearly all of the country’s 10.45 million citizens.

Hasan Omarov, the CEO of Aztelekom, emphasized that this initiative was not merely a technological upgrade but a strategic investment designed to eliminate digital disparities, ensuring equitable access to digital services across the nation. He noted, "For the first time, citizens, regardless of their location, have equal access to reliable and high-speed internet services, enhancing their digital opportunities." The partnership with Huawei, renowned for its technical prowess and innovative solutions, has been crucial to the development of Azerbaijan's digital infrastructure. This collaboration has set the stage for future advancements, including the deployment of cutting-edge technologies like 10G and 50G passive optical networks, which will provide ultra-fast, reliable broadband services to individuals and businesses soon.

Launched by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport in 2021, the 'Online Azerbaijan' initiative aligns with governmental goals to raise the average internet speed to 50 Mbit/s on a stable broadband network by the end of 2025. As part of Huawei's TECH4ALL digital inclusion program, the project has also focused on infrastructure development to connect some of the most remote villages in the country with gigabit-scale optical networking solutions.

Cui Yangyang, Director of Huawei's TECH4ALL program, stated, "We are committed to leveraging our technology and solutions to bridge the digital divide and foster the emergence of an inclusive and sustainable digital world. Ensuring that everyone has access to high-speed internet, wherever they are, opens up opportunities for all citizens to contribute to the growth of the digital economy and the future prosperity of the nation."

The optical telecommunications solutions provided by Huawei are designed to replace traditional electrical switching with optical technologies, addressing demands for high bandwidth and low latency.

The project's goals are structured based on population density, infrastructure potential, and social indicators across Azerbaijan's 14 economic regions. Initially, the average internet speed in the country was a meager 11.7 Mbit/s, which has since skyrocketed to 88.84 Mbit/s by 2025 due to robust and large-scale fiberoptic infrastructure deployment, including the complete replacement of outdated copper networks.

Within just one year, Azerbaijan climbed nine spots in the UN's E-Government Development Index, making its debut in 2025 among the leading nations in digital governance. The project has been lauded at various specialized events and has scooped up five international awards, featuring as a model profitability analysis case study by the Harvard Business Review Türkiye, along with mention in Philip Kotler’s 'Principles of Modern Marketing.'

Before this initiative, many rural areas in Azerbaijan had limited access to modern connectivity and digital services. For example, in isolated mountain villages like Khinalyg, reliable high-speed connectivity has significantly boosted local prospects by supporting small and medium enterprises, stimulating tourism, and enabling local artisans to introduce their traditional products to a global audience through continuous live streaming.

Moreover, enhanced connectivity has vastly improved access to online education for rural schools, helping bridge the digital gap and offering students in these areas better educational opportunities comparable to their urban counterparts. Beyond online education, telemedicine and smart city projects are being implemented nationwide. In its next phase, 'Online Azerbaijan' will focus on expanding 5G and IoT access to the most remote regions, placing a strong emphasis on energy efficiency and the adoption of green technologies.

About TECH4ALL

TECH4ALL is Huawei's long-term digital inclusion initiative and action plan. By leveraging innovative technologies and partnerships, TECH4ALL aims to create an inclusive and sustainable digital world.