In relation to the announcement of 2013 being the Year of ICT in Azerbaijan, the country attaches great importance to the development of this sector.
According to the World Economic Forum's Global Information Technology Report 2013 which reflects the Networked Readiness Index (NRI) in 144 countries of the world, Azerbaijan ranked 56th with 4.11 points, improving on last year's figures by five points. Azerbaijan is listed as the third most developed country in the field of ICT in the CIS with Kazakhstan (43th) and Russia (54th).
WEF experts have devoted a separate section to the country under the title of 'Azerbaijan: Big ambitions in a rapidly changing world', which refers to the efforts of the country to develop IICT and maximise benefits in this area.
According to the State Statistics Committee, in January-April 2013 organisations and the people of Azerbaijan were provided with information and communication services at a total cost of 462.6 million manat, which is 8.9 per cent more than the same period in 2012.
According to the State Statistics Committee, out of the total volume of information and communication services, 72 per cent accounted for services rendered to the population.
As much as 59 per cent of the total amount of revenues is received from mobile services which is 9.7 per cent more than at the same period in 2012.
In January-April 2013, the total revenue from mobile services in the country amounted to 273 million manat.
The number of broadband Internet users in the network managed by the Aztelekom Production Association of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan since the beginning of the year increased by 19 per cent. Currently, the number of broadband connections in the network exceeds 136,000.
Internet penetration in Baku exceeds 75 per cent. The rate of broadband Internet usage in the service area of the production association is 20.2 per cent.
In order to expand broadband services, the industrial association launched 11 new automatic exchanges in the Yevlakh, Mingachevir, Yardimli, Kurdamir, Agdash, Zagatala, Geranboi and Aghstafa regions.
The production association has laid 224 kilometres of fibre-optic cable line since the beginning of the year.
Telephone links have also been completed in 10 settlements in the Hajigabul, Tartar, Goygol, Aghdash, Astara and Ismayilli regions. The satellite equipment used previously to provide telephone communication has been taken out of service.