DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY

The world is moving into the digital age, and countries with a strong telecommunications infrastructure will gain a strategic advantage in economics, governance and security. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the number of Internet users will reach 5.4 billion in 2023, representing 67 per cent of the world's population. However, the availability and quality of connectivity vary widely depending on infrastructure and investment in technology.

Digital infrastructure is becoming the basis for economic growth, and Azerbaijan's participation in ITU initiatives, data centre development and broadband expansion forms the foundation for technological independence and innovative breakthroughs.

Strategic Priority

Azerbaijan is consistently implementing large-scale endeavours to develop telecommunications networks, Internet access and digital public services. One of the key projects is "Online Azerbaijan", adopted in accordance with the "Strategic Roadmap for the Development of Telecommunications and Information Technologies". This initiative has been instrumental in elevating the country to a new level of digitalisation, enhancing average internet speeds, and paving the way for the implementation of 5G and AI solutions. The culmination of this ambitious project was marked by a final reporting event in Baku on the 10th of March. The "Online Azerbaijan" initiative aims to provide enterprises and households with high-speed and reliable internet access. Through a phased implementation approach, the initiative has successfully covered the entire country with a broadband access network.

Shahin Babayev, executive director of Azerbaijan Transport and Communication Holding, stated that over the past four years, the number of households with access to fixed broadband internet has increased 13-fold to 3 million, leading to almost complete coverage of the country with modern internet networks.

He emphasised that the development of telecoms infrastructure has become a key component of the country's digital strategy, offering not only high connectivity speeds but also a sustainable foundation for the subsequent introduction of innovative technologies. As a result of the efforts undertaken, the average annual internet speed in the country increased by 1.4 times over two years, surpassing 66 Mbps in January 2025. GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) technology has been fully implemented, providing high connection speeds compared to earlier analogues. Hasan Omarov, Acting Director General of AzTeleCom LLC, has stated that current work is being carried out and trunk cables are being laid in the territories liberated from occupation. New technologies are being introduced in accordance with the I State Programme on Great Return. To date, over 3,500 households have been provided with broadband internet. These measures have enabled Azerbaijan to advance by 30 positions in the global ranking of average internet speed, achieving 91st place among 154 countries, and by 9 positions in the UN rating on e-government development, reaching 74th place among 193 states. Azerbaijan has entered the top category of the digital governance ranking for the first time, achieving a score of 0.76 – the highest in the country's history.

5G and AI development in Azerbaijan

One of the key topics of the event was the prospect of 5G network deployment in the country. Alexander Shunin, head of Nokia's representative office in Azerbaijan, confirmed that 5G pilot tests in Baku have been completed and the company is now awaiting regulatory authority allocation of frequencies. "As soon as the licence becomes available, we will be ready to start implementing the project," Shunin stated.

Despite the global rollout of 5G, many operators are facing challenges in monetising the technology. "Investment in 5G is significant, but the return is slow. Therefore, operators in most countries are still focusing on 4G and 4G+ development, seeking to maximise the return on their investments in fourth-generation networks," he added. Another important topic of discussion was the creation of a local data processing centre with artificial intelligence (AI) in Azerbaijan. According to Shunin, the growth of Internet traffic and the development of cloud technologies make the introduction of AI solutions for network management inevitable, which has already become a global trend.

"The world's main languages, let's say the top 10, are already integrated into various systems. In neighbouring countries, such as Kazakhstan, AI is already being adapted for the Kazakh language. I am sure that similar steps will be taken in Azerbaijan," Shunin said.

This transition is expected to commence within the next few years, as AI technologies are rapidly evolving and nations adopting such solutions gain a substantial competitive edge. Telecom operators are anticipated to play a pivotal role in this process. During the event, the ITU Regional Director Natalia Mochu presented statistics on Internet access in Azerbaijan, highlighting that it significantly exceeds the global average. The statistics presented revealed that 92.7 per cent of men and 85.4 per cent of women in the country have access to the Internet, which is significantly higher than the global averages of 70 per cent and 65 per cent, respectively. The statistics also revealed that 94.6 per cent of urban residents and 82.1 per cent of rural population in Azerbaijan are connected to the Internet, which is above the global average.

According to Ms Mochu, young people are the most active part of Internet users. Estimates indicate that 79 per cent of individuals aged 15 to 24 worldwide use the Internet, a figure that is even higher in Azerbaijan, with 88.2 per cent of young people (15-24 years old) and 91.2 per cent of the population aged 25 to 74 using the Internet.

Despite falling prices for Internet access around the world, the cost remains a challenge, according to Mochu. In low-income countries, the price of fixed broadband is equivalent to almost a third of the average monthly income. In contrast, Azerbaijan has more favourable indicators, with the cost of a minimum consumer mobile package being 1.14 per cent of gross national income (GNI) per capita, and the cost of fixed broadband being 1.34 per cent. In comparison, the UN recommended threshold is 2% of GNI. We are pleased to see that these figures are significantly lower in Azerbaijan, making the Internet more accessible," concluded the ITU Regional Director.

Participation In A Global Initiative

Azerbaijan is currently considering joining the global GovStack initiative, which aims to develop digital public services. A regional document was signed in this regard, and its implementation is expected in the near future.

Discussions on the project are underway with the Innovation and Digital Development Agency of Azerbaijan, and the International Telecommunication Union has noted the high level of interest in cooperation. The Agency is actively developing accelerator centres across the country, and the Online Azerbaijan initiative allows citizens to study and work remotely, reducing the outflow of population from the regions. In addition, the Azerbaijan Innovation Agency recently became a member of the ITU Innovation Alliance, making it one of the 13 leading centres in the world. This partnership provides access to ITU resources, including training, start-up support and digital entrepreneurship activities. A landmark event for the digital community will be the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference, which will be held for the first time in Baku from 17 to 28 November 2025. The conference will adopt a declaration outlining strategic priorities for the 194 ITU member countries, with the entire ITU ecosystem gathering to discuss the key challenges and prospects for digital connectivity. The primary objective is not only to provide access to the Internet, but also to ensure that the digital environment is genuinely meaningful and useful for society.

Azerbaijan is enhancing its infrastructure and, concomitantly, consolidating its position in global digital initiatives by forging partnerships with the ITU and participating in pivotal international projects aimed at enhancing the accessibility and efficiency of digital technologies.