BAKU, Azerbaijan — Aztelekom, a subsidiary of AZCON Holding, and Huawei have announced that the nationwide broadband initiative known as "Online Azerbaijan" has successfully connected 99.7% of the country. This milestone brings high-speed Internet access to nearly all of Azerbaijan's 10.45 million residents, including those in remote mountain villages such as Khinalig.
Massive Infrastructure Achievement
Up to 3 million households and businesses across major cities and remote areas now have full access to high-speed Internet and digital services. Of these, 2 million were connected within the past two years alone. The project represents one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in the nation's history.
"We approached this initiative not merely as a technological upgrade, but as a strategic investment aimed at reducing digital disparity," said Hasan Omarov, CEO of Aztelekom. "For the first time, citizens regardless of their place of residence are provided with equal access to high-speed, reliable Internet services and equal digital opportunities."
Role of Huawei's Technology
Huawei has been a key partner in the project, providing all-optical gigabit fiber solutions under its TECH4ALL digital inclusion program. These solutions have been critical in connecting some of Azerbaijan's most remote villages. Huawei's all-optical telecommunications infrastructure replaces traditional electrical switching with optical technologies to meet high bandwidth and low latency demands.
"Huawei is committed to using its technologies and solutions to bridge the digital divide and enable an inclusive and sustainable digital world," said Cui Yangyang, Director of the TECH4ALL Program Office for Huawei. "Ensuring that everyone has access to high-speed Internet, no matter where they are located, unlocks opportunities for every citizen."
Rapid Progress and Future Plans
Launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the "Online Azerbaijan" initiative aimed to increase average Internet speeds to 50 Mbps by 2025. At launch, the average speed was just 11.7 Mbit/s, but it has since risen more than sevenfold to 88.84 Mbit/s. This progress is attributed to the large-scale deployment of fiber optics, including the complete replacement of legacy copper networks.
The project's targets were set based on population density, infrastructure potential, and social indicators of each of Azerbaijan's 14 economic regions. As a result, Azerbaijan rose nine places in the UN E-Government Development Index in just one year, entering the top tier of digital governance for the first time in 2025.
Looking ahead, Omarov noted that the foundation laid by "Online Azerbaijan" will enable the deployment of advanced technologies such as 10G and 50G PON, further delivering ultra-fast, reliable, and high-capacity broadband services to homes and businesses.
