Supported by Huawei, Aztelekom Achieves Near Nationwide Broadband Connectivity through "Online Azerbaijan"
Aztelekom, a subsidiary of AZCON Holding company, and Huawei announced that the "Online Azerbaijan" broadband connectivity strategy has achieved coverage of 99.7% of Azerbaijan. This initiative has connected up to 3 million households and businesses across major cities and remote villages, providing full access to high-speed Internet and digital services. Notably, 2 million of these connections were established in the past two years, enabling virtually all of the country's 10.45 million residents to access high-speed Internet.
Hasan Omarov, CEO of Aztelekom, stated that the initiative is not just a technological upgrade but a strategic investment aimed at reducing digital disparity and ensuring equitable access to digital services. He characterized the "Online Azerbaijan" megaproject as one of the largest infrastructure endeavors in Azerbaijan's history, highlighting that it provides equal access to reliable Internet services regardless of residents' locations. Omarov also noted that Huawei's technical expertise has been crucial in advancing Azerbaijan's digital infrastructure.
Launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the "Online Azerbaijan" initiative supports government goals to boost average Internet speeds to 50 Mbps by 2025. Huawei has contributed to this project through its TECH4ALL digital inclusion program, which has extended connectivity to some of the nation's most remote villages using all-optical gigabit fiber solutions. Cui Yangyang, Director of the TECH4ALL Program Office at Huawei, emphasized the organization's commitment to closing the digital divide and fostering an inclusive digital economy.
As part of the project, targets were determined based on population density, infrastructure readiness, and social indicators across Azerbaijan's 14 economic regions. The average Internet speed in Azerbaijan, which was 11.7 Mbit/s at project initiation, is projected to reach 88.84 Mbit/s by 2025, reflecting a significant increase due to extensive fiber infrastructure deployment. The project has also improved Azerbaijan's ranking in the UN E-Government Development Index, marking its entry into the top tier of digital governance in 2025.
The implementation of high-speed Internet in rural areas, such as the mountain village of Khinalig, has created new local opportunities by enhancing support for small businesses and tourism, as well as enabling local artisans to reach global audiences through livestreaming. Additionally, improved Internet connectivity has facilitated access to online education for rural schools, helping to create equitable learning opportunities. Future phases of the "Online Azerbaijan" project will emphasize extending 5G and IoT capabilities to remote regions while prioritizing energy efficiency and green technology.