BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 30. Trend News Agency presents an overview of the most important events in 2023 in the ICT sector of Azerbaijan.
AzerTelecom and Kazakhtelecom, the leading telecommunications companies of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, signed an agreement on the terms of cooperation within the framework of the project on laying a fiber-optic communication line (FOCL) along the bottom of the Caspian Sea.
The Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Communication Line project along the bottom of the Caspian Sea on the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan route is part of the large-scale “Digital Silk Way” project, which envisages the formation of a digital telecommunications corridor between Europe and Asia.
Telecom operators are confident that the project will serve as a driver to accelerate the formation of a new digital telecommunications corridor and help reach a higher level of development of a high-speed and secure data transmission infrastructure, as well as strengthen trade and other ties.
As a result of this agreement, AzerTelecom and Kazakhtelecom established a joint venture responsible for the construction and operation of the Trans-Caspian fiber-optic cable line along the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan route on the seabed of the Caspian Sea.
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel said in October this year that the two countries began practical work on laying a fiber-optic connection line on the Caspian seabed.
As the ambassador noted, first work will be carried out on the production of this line, and then on the installation.
Besides, commission-free money transfers from Türkiye to Azerbaijan were launched this year. The Turkish Turan Financial Company's application enables instant and commission-free money transfers from Türkiye to all cards in Azerbaijan. In the future, the company plans to establish money transfers by bank card without commission from Azerbaijan to Türkiye.
Speaking about money transfers, the launch of Uzbek payment service Ozon's interest-free money transfers to Azerbaijan should be mentioned.
Money can be transferred without commission using Humo, Uzcard, Visa, Mastercard, or Oson e-wallets.
This year, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, with the support of the "PASHA Holding" group of companies and cooperation with the Israeli "Technion" institute, has established the Azerbaijani Cyber Security Center to train highly qualified specialists and instructors in the field of cyber security.
In the Cybersecurity Center of Azerbaijan, training for over 1,000 people is planned over the course of three years, including 15 highly qualified instructors. The training of local instructors will specifically enable the future expansion of the program.
It was also reported that the global company Nokia will open a laboratory at the Azerbaijan Technical University. The laboratory will be fully equipped by Nokia. In the initial stage, approximately 800 students and faculty members from the Faculty of Radio Engineering and Communications will receive training on equipment operation.
One of the key developments in the sector is that the Earth remote sensing satellite, Azersky, owned by the Azerbaijan Space Agency (Azercosmos), completed its mission one year ahead of the projected operational term. In connection with this, Azercosmos is in negotiations with globally renowned satellite manufacturers for the launch of a new Azerbaijani satellite into orbit. It was reported that the parameters of interest to satellite service customers, such as innovation, cost, support, etc., are constantly changing and being updated. The economic and non-economic benefits that Azerbaijan can derive from the new satellite project in the future are being carefully studied. It was also emphasized that the negotiation process will continue until the most suitable choice for the country is made.
Additionally, it was reported that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Azerbaijan are collaborating on the creation of a new telecommunications network. It was noted that this is important in terms of establishing new infrastructure: regular telephone communication, the internet, and other telecommunication services. The ITU and the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan are in negotiations for this project.
Another significant event in the sector negotiations between Starlink and Azerbaijan for the launch of satellite internet. Satellite coverage is already available throughout the country. Currently, efforts are underway to obtain a license for satellite internet services. Upon reaching a mutual agreement, Starlink will be able to launch this service in Azerbaijan.
It was also announced that a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and Microsoft Corporation. Under the agreement, collaboration is planned in the areas of digitization, innovation, improvement of information technology infrastructure, human capital development, as well as exploration, extraction, processing, marketing, transportation, and cybersecurity. This collaboration aims to establish a favorable foundation for creating an innovative center of advanced expertise.
Previously, SOCAR and the global leader, CISCO Systems Inc., reached an agreement on collaboration in the fields of digital transformation, network solutions, and software for the implementation of new technologies. The collaboration includes the implementation of projects in technological infrastructure, secure digital transformation, sustainable IT systems, and the creation of a comfortable user experience.
Touching on aspects of memoranda, it's also worth mentioning the memorandum signed between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in the field of cybersecurity.
The goal of the memorandum is to develop mutual cooperation, efforts, and effective use of technical, financial, and human resources to prepare response measures in case of serious incidents in the field of cybersecurity.
In the current year, Azerbaijan approved a strategy for information security and cybersecurity for 2023–2027.
According to this strategy, Azerbaijan will establish minimum cybersecurity requirements for the national digital airspace, define tax incentives and other mandatory payments related to the development of information security technologies, enhance the protection of personal data, create advisory platforms for information security and cybersecurity, take measures to prepare national resources in the field of cryptographic protection, and establish security requirements for the creation, application, and disposal of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Additionally, a plan will be developed for the organizational foundations, risk assessment, and management to ensure the security of critical information infrastructure and its management in emergencies and wartime conditions, and an electronic information system called "Cybercrimes" will be formed. Criteria and indicators for the detection and measurement of incidents and critical cases will also be defined, and a registry of information security risks will be maintained.
Certainly, another major event of the year in the ICT sector was the hosting of the 74th International Astronautical Congress in partnership with the Azerbaijan Space Agency ("Azercosmos") and the International Astronautical Federation in Baku. According to information, the event was attended by representatives from space agencies, the public sector, investors, private companies, local and international media, as well as over 5,000 representatives from 101 countries.
At the International Astronautical Congress, 150 companies were presented in the exhibition pavilion. Scientists and researchers from 95 countries presented 3,532 scientific papers. Azerbaijan also presented a record number of scientific papers—214.
Furthermore, within the framework of the International Astronautical Congress, the following agreements were reached: Azercosmos and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signed a cooperation agreement for the development of new observation satellites for Azerbaijan.
As a result, the "Azersky-2" satellite will be produced in Azerbaijan. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) plans to collaborate with Azerbaijan within the international space program "Artemis." Azercosmos and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) signed a memorandum of understanding on the exchange of knowledge and experience between organizations and scientific communities in the field of space technologies.
In the current year, Azercosmos and the company "Bayanat" of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a cooperation agreement. The parties will collaborate in the field of geoinformation systems (GIS). This includes promoting potential projects and opportunities for obtaining, processing, and applying remote sensing data, geospatial data capabilities, and exchanging experience and knowledge.
Moreover, Azercosmos will be able to use the geospatial information platform owned by "Bayanat" within one year. The collaboration also includes plans to expand the use of Earth observation solutions in mapping and research in the oil and gas sector.
It was also announced that Mastercard is actively working on activating mobile number-based money transfers in Azerbaijan and is currently collaborating with the International Bank of Azerbaijan on this matter.