AzerTelecom, the region's largest international backbone operator, has partnered with global Internet exchange leader DE-CIX to launch AZE-IX (Azerbaijan Internet Exchange), a major step toward strengthening Azerbaijan's position as a regional digital connectivity hub.

The new AZE-IX platform will enable direct, high-speed internet traffic exchange between local and international internet service providers, content platforms, cloud providers, and enterprises, reducing latency while improving network performance across Azerbaijan, The Caspian Post reports via Azertac.

The launch marks a key milestone in the implementation of the Digital Silk Way project, which aims to establish a new digital corridor linking Europe, Asia, and the Middle East through Azerbaijan.

Chairman of the Board of AzerTelecom, Emil Masimov, said the new Internet exchange will place Azerbaijan on the global map of internet exchange hubs.

"AZE-IX will become one of the key interconnection points for regional and global networks, integrating Azerbaijan into the world's Internet exchange ecosystem," Masimov said.

DE-CIX CEO Ivo Ivanov highlighted Azerbaijan's strategic location at the crossroads of the Caspian Sea, Black Sea, and Central Asia, calling it an ideal location for a new regional digital interconnection hub.

"For more than 30 years, DE-CIX has built neutral interconnection ecosystems that improve regional access to digital services. We are pleased to work with AzerTelecom to bring our proven interconnection model to Azerbaijan and support the country's growing digital ecosystem," Ivanov said.

The AZE-IX platform will be built using DE-CIX's internationally recognized interconnection model, which powers more than 50 Internet exchanges across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Strengthening the Digital Silk Way

AzerTelecom is the leading international backbone operator in the region, providing internet transit, data transmission, wholesale internet traffic, and other telecommunications services. The company is spearheading the Digital Silk Way initiative, a transcontinental project designed to create a new high-capacity digital corridor between Europe and Asia.