Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec.14 / Trend H. Veliyev /
Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies has developed a strategy for the development of broadband Internet access in Azerbaijan, Communications and IT Minister Ali Abbasov said today.
The question is about the concept of broadband Internet in the regions for 2011-2013, which aims at extending opportunities of its use and making them more accessible for end users.
Abbasov said today the penetration rate of broadband Internet in Azerbaijan hits12 percent, which is twice more than the world average indicators.
"Internet in Azerbaijan is available throughout, and the current prices on the Internet correspond to the rates available in Eastern Europe. Our main goal today is even greater development of information-communication technologies, which we intend to achieve in the short term," the minister said.
Over the past year and a half the Internet tariffs in Azerbaijan were reduced by eight-nine times on average. At present, the average price of connection to the ADSL service at speeds of 1 Mbps is 20 manat.
The new strategy of the Ministry on the development of broadband Internet access envisages tariff reductions and the increase in the number of tariff plans offered first by public Internet service providers. The new strategy of the Ministry also envisages an increase in the number of ports of broadband Internet access by installing new DSLAM equipment in telecommunications nodes of the operators.
The official rate is 0.7987 manat to $1 Dec.14.