On March 3, Baku and Astana confirmed an agreement to build underwater fiber-optic communication lines along the bottom of the Caspian Sea. This step marked significant progress in implementing the Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable Line, a cornerstone of the "Digital Silk Road" (DSR) project.
In essence, the vision of creating a digital corridor between Europe and Asia has moved closer to reality. On a broader scale, the DSR aims to establish a telecommunications corridor in a digital format, encompassing not only Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan but also Turkmenistan, Georgia, and Turkey. The goal is to create a highly efficient and shorter route with powerful data transmission speeds, fostering further development of all the countries involved.
Photo: Azertac
Reflecting on this progress, it is worth recalling that the project was launched in Azerbaijan in 2018. The following year, a groundbreaking ceremony in Aktau marked the start of construction for the fiber-optic communication line (spanning 380 km with a capacity of up to 400 terabits per second) along the Caspian Sea's bottom. At that time, the initiative was hailed as a new Digital Silk Road on the historic Silk Road route between Europe and Asia, aiming to provide internet services not only to Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan but also to other Asian countries. Experts emphasized that fiber-optic connectivity would play a crucial role in "transmitting larger volumes of information and ensuring more stable internet services in the region."
In 2019, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan signed an agreement to lay a main fiber-optic cable line along the Caspian Sea's bottom between the two countries.
In 2021, NEQSOL Holding, an international group of companies headquartered in Baku, acquired a 100% stake in Georgia's Caucasus Online. This company owned the underwater fiber-optic cable running along the bottom of the Black Sea-a crucial component for transiting internet traffic from Europe to the Caspian region and, consequently, the entire South Caucasus.
In this context, it is also significant that in 2022, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed a Declaration on Strengthening Strategic Relations and a Comprehensive Cooperation Program for 2022-2025.
Photo credit: president.az
The following year, during the 5th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of Central Asian States in Tajikistan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the centuries-old fraternal ties between Baku and the Central Asian countries, highlighting their "common cultural roots." He described Central Asia and Azerbaijan as "a unified historical and cultural geographic region of strategic significance in global politics, with a growing economy, population, and geopolitical potential." Addressing the transport and logistics sector, President Aliyev positioned Azerbaijan as "a reliable transit country for Central Asia on the route to Turkish and European markets," adding that "our brothers in Central Asia know that all this infrastructure is open to them."
5th Consultative Meeting of Heads of Central Asian States, 2023/@president.az
Furthermore, President Aliyev outlined the digitalization of the East-West transport corridor as a key factor in ensuring "transparency of transit shipments and equal conditions for all participants." He described the DSR, which aims to create a fiber-optic infrastructure, as "a new area of cooperation between our countries" that is being actively developed.
As a result, in 2023, telecom operators AzerTelecom and Kazakhtelecom signed an agreement to establish a joint venture for the construction and operation of the Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable Line along the Caspian Sea route between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. In 2024, nearly $51 million was allocated to advance the project.
Photo credit: digitalsilkway.az
At another meeting of Central Asian and Azerbaijani leaders in 2024, President Aliyev specified that the DSR project would enhance not only digital infrastructure but also cybersecurity.
Thus, the agreement signed in Baku on March 3 between Astana and Baku reflects the successful resolution of issues related to the DSR project. It is crucial to highlight that, in a world where established connections are disintegrating not only economically but also politically, the agreement between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan demonstrates the possibility of successfully implementing previously reached agreements. This success is underpinned by the political will of national leaders and a mutual understanding based on the interests of all parties involved.
Amidst these developments, Azerbaijan's geopolitical importance as a key "meeting point" for all regional transport and logistics routes is further strengthened, solidifying its role as a significant digital hub. The mainline will ensure the delivery of internet traffic from European internet hubs through Azerbaijan to Central Asia and further to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. The Middle East, one might say, is not far behind.
