The Azerbaijani information and communication technology sector (ICT) is one of the most dynamically developing sectors of the national economy due to the profitability and total profitability of this business. Despite the main catalyst for the growth of Azerbaijan's economy is the oil and gas sector, the ICT sector also increases its capacity every year.
The organisations and people of Azerbaijan were provided with information and communication services worth 243.9 million manat in Jan.-Feb. 2014, which is 11.2 percent more than in the same period of 2013, according to the State Statistics Committee.
Some 72.4 percent of the total volume of information and communication services accounted for services rendered to the population. Around 58.1 percent of the total amount of revenues fell to the mobile services.
The total amount of revenues from mobile services in the country amounted to 141.7 million manat or by 7.4 percent more than in the same period of 2013.
Aztelekom Production Association of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan ceases to develop CDMA Fixed telephony.
The issue of development of this communication type is not considered as its relevance has decreased. The demand for CDMA service loses its relevance every year mainly due to lack of the possibility of organizing high-speed broadband services on its basis. Therefore, given the current needs of the market, the further development of CDMA networks is not necessary. This technology was relevant during the transition period when the installation of telephones in remote settlements was required.
The operator does not intend to invest in an area which does not bring adequate profit and is unprofitable from the economic point of view.
Aztelekom wireless network was launched in September 2005. The company began providing wireless user access implemented on the basis of the latest fir that time digital technology, CDMA. Having started its development in remote areas, the network expanded rapidly and engulfed the entire population of the country.
Currently, two tariff plans (monthly fee is 10 manat for unlimited and two manat for limited) are used for CDMA communication system of Aztelekom production association.
Currently, the number of subscribers in the CDMA network of Aztelekom production association exceeds 20,000.
е-signature
The total number of the Asan İmza mobile e-signature certificates issued in Azerbaijan in February 2014 increased by two percent.
Asan Certification Services Centre issued 23,415 certificates, with 11,174 mobile e-signatures were issued to legal entities, 12,174 e-signatures to physical entities, whereas 67 e-signatures accounted for civil servants.
On April 9, the Asan Certification Services Centre obtained accreditation from the Azerbaijani Communications and Information Technologies Ministry and is authorized to issue advanced certificates of enhanced electronic signature to the public and local self-governance bodies, legal and physical entities.
Asan Certification Service Centre, created upon Azerbaijani Taxes Minister's decree, issues certificates for authentication and digital signature for mobile SIM-cards (Asan İmza) and renders other services envisaging the use of certificates and legally binding digital signatures by state bodies, the private sector and citizens.
The platform of the Asan İmza mobile signature center is integrated with the platform of Azerbaijani mobile operators, namely Azercell Telecom LLC and Bakcell LLC. It is necessary to change SIM-card to use the mobile digital signatures.
Integration with platform of the mobile operator Azerfon (which owns NarMobile trademark) is nearing completion.