Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 8
By Huseyn Valiyev - Trend:
Construction cost of the Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway (TASIM) will stand at $100 million, head of the TASIM project team, Zaur Hasanov told Trend on Jan. 8.
He said it is the initial cost of the project and it can be corrected after consulting a number of aspects. Investments will be equally distributed between the project participants.
"An agreement in principle on the project's realization is expected to be signed by mid-2014. The agreement will determine the project's business model, management of traffic and distribution of investments and incomes, etc," Zaur Hasanov said. "It is expected that the agreement in principle will also resolve the issue regarding laying the Caspian segment of cable line, which is an integral part of the project".
TASIM is a regionally significant project aimed at laying trans-national fibre-optic cable lines covering Eurasian countries, from Western Europe to Eastern Asia.
Currently, the TASIM project includes such countries as Russia (Rostelecom), Kazakhstan (KazTransCom), Turkey (TurkTelecom), and China (China Telecom). Azerbaijan is represented in the project by the International Relations and Calculations Center of Azerbaijani Communications and Information Technologies Ministry.
The project is aimed at reducing poverty, accelerating economic growth. It may also play a leading role in region's development.
TASIM project is designed to connect 20 countries. Its implementation will eliminate the 'information gap' between Western Europe and the Pacific Rim.
Translated by E.A.