Trans-Caspian Fiber Optic Cable Project
“AzerTelecom” has launched the “Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable” project to lay a backbone fiber-optic cable between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Central Asian Republics through the bottom of the Caspian Sea in late 2018 to create a digital telecommunications corridor between Europe and Asia.
The project consists of two directions. The first direction envisages the construction of a backbone fiber-optic cable on the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan route through the bottom of the Caspian Sea, while the second direction includes the construction of a similar cable line with the bottom of the Caspian Sea on the Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan route.
Azerbaijan – Kazakhstan route
The first direction of the project is to lay a backbone fiber-optic cable between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan through the seabed of the Caspian Sea. At the end of 2018, telecommunication operators AzerTelecom of Azerbaijan and Transtelecom and KazTransCom of Kazakhstan signed a Memorandum of Corporation to build a Trans Caspian Fiber Optic Cable Line (Trans Caspian Fiber Optic - TCFO) to form a digital telecommunications corridor between Europe and Asia. The three companies established a Consortium, formed a Joint Working Group and signed relevant documents in connection with laying of the Trans-Caspian Fiber Optic line with the total length of 380-400 km. The data transmission capacity of the backbone cable line will be at least 4-6 terabits / s. The cable line will be laid between Siyazan and Aktau geographical points.
The interstate agreement “On organization of activities by communication operators of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in relation to the joint construction, ownership and operation of fiber optic transmission lines along the bottom of the Caspian Sea on Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan route” was signed between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan on March 19, 2019.
The agreement was approved by Azerbaijan on April 11. The interstate agreement was approved by Kazakh government on May 17, 2019. Also, the three companies signed a joint contract on the construction of backbone cable line in the beginning of 2019.
The official ceremony dedicated to the launch of works in Kazakhstan territory on the construction of Trans Caspian Fiber Optic (TCFO) cable line through the bottom of the Caspian Sea between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan was held on November 19, 2019, in Aktau. Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Republic Ali Asadov and Prime Minister of Republic of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin, other public officials, as well as the heads of participating in the project telecom operators, attended the ceremony of launching the construction of the Trans Caspian Fiber Optic in Kazakhstan territory.
“McKinsey and Company”, “Detecon”, “Axiom”, “DLA Piper”, “Huawei”, “PwC” and other international consulting and telco companies are involved in the project of strategic importance for both countries.
Azerbaijan – Turkmenistan route
Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan route is the second direction of “TransCaspian Fiber Optic” project. The intergovernmental agreement on laying the fiber-optic backbone cable line through the bottom of the Caspian Sea between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan was signed on November 28 in the framework of Turkmentel 2019 – the 12th International Exhibition for Telecom and IT Industry in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Based on the agreement “On organization of activities by communication operators of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in relation to the joint construction, ownership and operation of fiber optic transmission lines along the bottom of the Caspian Sea on Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan route”, the project on laying the backbone fiber-optic cable line (Trans-Caspian Fiber Optic cable line) will be carried out by AzerTelecom, backbone internet provider connecting Azerbaijan to the global internet network, from the Azerbaijani side, and from Turkmenistan side by Turkmentelecom, telecommunication operator of this country. The cable will run from Siyazan to Turkmenbashi.
In the ceremony of signing Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan documents has been held in Baku on March 11, 2020, with the participation of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, a Memorandum of Understanding on joint construction, ownership and operation of a fiber-optic communication line along the bottom of the Caspian Sea on the Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan route was signed between the “AzerTelecom” Limited Liability Company and “Turkmentelecom” telecommunications company.
The backbone cable line with the total length of 300 km will allow the transmission of data with a capacity of at least 2-4 terabit/s.
The cable line will ensure the transmission of Internet traffic from the European Internet centers through Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. It will turn Azerbaijan into a hub in the transmission of internet traffic between Europe and the South Asia.