Aztelekom and Huawei Facilitate Nationwide Broadband Access in Azerbaijan

Nationwide Broadband Access in Azerbaijan

In a groundbreaking project aimed at bridging the digital divide, Aztelekom, a subsidiary of AZCON, alongside Huawei, has revealed that the national broadband initiative known as 'Online Azerbaijan' now covers 99.7% of the country's territory. This expansive effort ensures that approximately three million households and businesses, both in urban and remote rural areas, have gained access to high-speed internet and digital services. In a remarkable achievement, two million of these connections were established within the last two years alone. As a result, nearly all 10.45 million residents of Azerbaijan can now access reliable high-speed internet.

Hasan Omarov, the CEO of Aztelekom, highlighted that this initiative is more than just a technological upgrade; it represents a strategic investment aimed at reducing digital inequality, ensuring equitable access to digital services, and facilitating the digital transformation of public services. He noted, "The 'Online Azerbaijan' megaproject stands as one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in our nation's history. For the first time, citizens can enjoy equal access to high-quality internet services regardless of their location, offering them unparalleled digital opportunities."

The partnership with Huawei has been instrumental in driving this transformation. Leveraging Huawei's technological expertise and innovative solutions, the project aims to enhance Azerbaijan's digital infrastructure significantly. Omarov emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating that the advanced technologies such as 10G and 50G Passive Optical Network (PON) will soon provide ultra-fast, reliable, and high-capacity broadband services to both households and enterprises.

Initiated by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport in 2021, the 'Online Azerbaijan' project aligns with governmental objectives to elevate the average internet speed in stable broadband networks to 50 Mbps by 2025. Huawei, through its TECH4ALL initiative, has played a vital role in this development, fostering infrastructure to connect some of the most remote villages in the country with full fiber-optic gigabit solutions. According to Cui Yangyang, head of Huawei's TECH4ALL program, "We are committed to using our technologies and solutions to bridge the digital divide and enable a more inclusive and sustainable digital world. Access to high-speed internet for everyone, irrespective of their location, opens up opportunities for each citizen and allows them to contribute to the burgeoning digital economy."

The full-fiber telecommunication solutions provided by Huawei focus on developing a comprehensive infrastructure that replaces traditional electrical switching with optical technologies, accommodating the demands for high bandwidth and low latency. The project's objectives were determined based on the population density, infrastructural potential, and social indicators across the 14 economic regions of Azerbaijan. Initially, the average internet speed in Azerbaijan was a mere 11.7 Mbps, but projections indicate it will increase to over 88.84 Mbps by 2025 as a direct consequence of the extensive rollout of optical infrastructure. This transformative project has led to Azerbaijan rising nine positions in the UN's e-Government Development Index, achieving its highest-ever ranking in public digital governance in 2025.

The project has garnered international recognition, being showcased as a case study at various expert events and has received five different international awards, including mentions in the Harvard Business Review Türkiye and Philip Kotler's publication on Modern Marketing.

Previously, many rural areas of Azerbaijan faced significant obstacles in accessing modern connectivity and digital services. The introduction of high-speed, reliable internet, particularly in remote mountainous villages like Khinalig, has significantly enhanced local opportunities. It has bolstered small and medium enterprises, stimulated tourism, and allowed local craftsmen to share their traditional crafts with a global audience through live streaming.

Improved connectivity is also widening access to online education for rural schools, helping bridge the digital divide and providing students in these areas educational opportunities comparable to those available to their urban counterparts.

In addition to online education, telemedicine and smart city projects are being implemented nationwide. The next phase of the 'Online Azerbaijan' initiative will focus on expanding 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) services to the most remote regions, emphasizing energy efficiency and the integration of green technologies.

About the TECH4ALL Initiative

TECH4ALL represents Huawei's long-term initiative and action plan focused on digital inclusion. Through innovative technologies and partnerships, TECH4ALL aims to create an inclusive and sustainable digital world.