Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan intend to launch new digital route in October
The Trans-Caspian fiber-optic communication line between Azerbaijan’s Sumgayit and Kazakhstan’s Aktau is set to become operational in October, according to Kazakhstan’s Minister of Digital Development Zhaslan Madiev.
Kazakhtelecom and AzerTelecom International are jointly implementing the project through their joint venture, CaspiLink B.V. The two sides have already laid the 390-kilometer cable along the Caspian seabed, creating what is expected to become a new direct, high-speed data transmission corridor between Asia and Europe.
«The new route will strengthen Kazakhstan’s digital connectivity with global data networks and lay the foundation for the further development of AI, cloud technologies and modern data centers,» Madiev said.
In addition, 4,511 kilometers of communication lines have been laid as part of the West-East digital highway project. The network is expected to become operational by the end of this year.
More broadly, Kazakhstan is working to develop all major areas of its digital infrastructure. In partnership with Beeline and Starlink Mobile, the country has launched Direct-to-Cell technology, which enables messaging and basic internet access via a direct satellite-to-smartphone connection.
The service is already available for Android devices, while iOS support is currently under development. To expand coverage in urban areas, operators have installed more than 4,000 5G base stations across over 20 residential communities, Madiev noted.
Additionally, operators have provided internet access to 1,500 carriages across 124 trains operating on 50 railway routes. Seven aircraft and 50 tourist sites are also expected to be connected to the internet soon.
Regional connectivity is expanding as well. Some 370 rural settlements have been connected to the network through the installation of 11,819 kilometers of communication lines, with plans to provide high-speed internet access to 1,600 rural communities this year.
Overall, authorities aim to provide internet connectivity along 40,000 kilometers of regional and national highways by installing more than 500 antenna masts by 2027.
