Laying of First Submarine Cable in Caspian Sea Completed

As part of the Digital Silk Way project, initiated by the Azerbaijani side and aimed at creating a new digital corridor between Europe and Asia, the laying of the first fiber-optic cable along the Caspian Sea bed has been successfully completed.

During the implementation of the Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable Line project, carried out by AzerTelecom and Kazakhtelecom, a 380-kilometer submarine fiber-optic line has been laid from Sumgait (Azerbaijan) to Aktau (Kazakhstan). Using a specialized vessel equipped with the necessary equipment, the armored fiber-optic cable was laid along a safe and stable route on the Caspian Sea bed.

Highlighting the strategic significance of the project, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AzerTelecom Emil Masimov noted: "One of the key components of the Digital Silk Way project, which will create a new digital corridor through Azerbaijan, is the laying of a fiber-optic cable line along the Caspian Sea bed. The main technical challenge of the project was that such infrastructure was being created for the first time on the Caspian Sea bed. The successful completion of this stage will soon allow the exchange of internet traffic between Europe and Asia via the Caspian Sea."

Currently, work continues on integrating the cable line with coastal infrastructure, as well as on the construction of terrestrial infrastructure. The Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable Line is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2026.

The first submarine digital backbone in the Caspian Sea will provide international capacity of over 400 Tbps, enable the transmission of large volumes of data, and contribute to the further development of digital services in the region.

The Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable Line is an important part of the Digital Silk Way project. Passing through Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Bulgaria, the Digital Silk Way will become the most optimal and shortest data transmission route, ensuring high capacity and minimal latency, as well as promoting regional cooperation and sustainable development.