Free internet

The creation of a modern internet infrastructure is a key trend in the development of Azerbaijan's telecommunications market. Wi-Fi is the most important component of broadband access. Until recently, the use of this resource was limited to certain areas and was almost exclusively used by corporations. However, in the near future, access to public hot spots will significantly increase. In connection with the declaration of the year 2013 as the Year of Information and Communication Technologies, the ministries of economic development and culture and tourism instructed the relevant bodies to organize free Wi-Fi zones in public places. 

Network borders

Through the efforts of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies and providers and local mobile operators, the past years have seen a significant progress in terms of an increase in the speed and volume of internet traffic. This has naturally led to a fall in the price of high-speed, broadband access to the World Wide Web. 

The current task is to enable people to access free broadband internet in educational, scientific and cultural institutions, as well as in urban transport, parks and other public places. According to the presidential plan of events to be carried out in the Year of Information Technologies, the ministries of communication and information technologies, economic development, culture and tourism will start implementing this task with the support of IT companies. This means that in the near future we will have Wi-Fi networks in many public places of the capital. 

The Wi-Fi system was invented in 1991 by the Dutch company NCR Corporation/AT&T. Initially, the product was designed to ensure wireless connection between systems of cashier services. Consequently, Wi-Fi (which means wireless fidelity) came to denote a whole series of standards for transferring digital data through radio channels which kept improving every year. 

As new systems are developed, Wi-Fi goes beyond the boundaries of corporate and individual use. The scope of the use of this product keeps expanding. For example, OzoneParis which aimed to cover the whole of the French capital. Similar major projects are being implemented by T-Mobile and BT Openzone in London. Wi-Fi networks are now accessible in a number of German and US cities, as well as in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Brazil and India. In post-Soviet countries, Moscow, Kiev and Minsk have the most developed Wi-Fi systems. These hot spots are accessible not only in the historical centres of these cities but in large hotels, restaurants, cafes, railways, airports, institutions of higher education and libraries. 

As a rule, the majority of these projects are commercial. Commercial access to WiMax and Wi-Fi networks exists in Azerbaijan as well. The Elcell company (trade mark: DataCeM LLC), which has existed in Baku and its suburbs for about ten years, is one such provider of these services. The Sazz 4G Internet company is also actively entering the wireless internet market. The services of the company are now accessible in Baku, Sumgayit, Xirdalan, Ganca and Mingacevir. In the near future, the services will be available in Saki, Zaqatala, Gusar, Lankaran and a number of other towns of Azerbaijan. Last year, the Azerfon mobile operator was the first company in the post-Soviet space to provide access to Wi-Fi aboard aircraft. 

Azercell Telecom is another mobile operator that participates in the developing Wi-Fi market. It installed wireless networks in a trade mall and several universities. Tariffs for Wi-Fi services are commensurate with the average market prices for broadband wired Internet and are somewhat cheaper than the services of speedy 3G and 4G access to the Net provided by local GSM operators. 

Just a gift

As for completely free of charge access to Wi-Fi networks, for a long time such practice the world over was only initiated by a few private trading companies which used this resource for advertising purposes - to enhance the attractiveness of their businesses - internet cafes, entertainment, trade and exhibition centres, hotels and recreation zones. Consequently, the zone of free Wi-Fi access was often limited to local areas of such commercial facilities. 

In recent five to six years, municipalities of a number of US and European cities also started creating free Wi-Fi hot spots. Such networks are set up in parks, historical parts of the cities, railways, transport knots and other places of public gathering. Non-commercial wireless networks are available at the campuses of large universities, public libraries, as well as public and government agencies. 

Azerbaijan intends to actively use international experience in organizing free Wi-Fi access in public areas of the capital. According to, Isfandiyar Aliyev, the chief of the department for the development of information community of the Ministry of Communications, last year  such a zone was set up at the national seaside park as part of preparations for the Eurovision song contest. In addition, the territory of the state historical and architectural complex in the Old Town will soon be fully covered. It is expected that free Wi-Fi access in the Old Town will enable tourists and holiday-makers to freely access an electronic guide and a limited list of internet resources.  

The Communications Ministry sees no obstacles for setting up free Wi-Fi networks in the capital's recreational zones. This only requires relevant funds and the formation of a servicing agency, whether this be a government or a public body. In all likelihood, the president's recent instruction facilitates the speedy resolution of organizational and financial issues, so free hot spots will appear in various places in Baku this year. 

Incidentally, a number of international bodies, government agencies and private Azeri IT companies are also developing public Wi-Fi services. For example, the Ultra company was one of the first to create a free public hot spot in central Baku in 2006. The Baku Expo Centre exhibition complex, as well as Heydar Aliyev international airport, have also had free Wi-Fi access. Through the support of the IREX international organization, free hot spots were set up at Baku universities in 2011. In the future, free Wi-Fi zones will be set up in the universities of Ganja and Lankaran. At the initiative of the Education Ministry, Wi-Fi networks were set up at 32 secondary schools of the capital participating in the Electronic School project. 

The largest project in the area will be implemented by 2014. At the initiative of the AileNet company, many parks, educational institutions and other public places in the capital will be covered by free hot spots. In particular, relevant work is already under way at various Baku metro stations. AileNet network will be free for users but with certain restrictions on downloading "heavy" content. 

Therefore, this will make it possible to come closer to the main aim envisaging the fast development of IT-technologies in Azerbaijan. The relevance of this aim has significantly increased this year which has been declared the Year of Information Technologies by President Ilham Aliyev.