Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev have ceremonially launched a 380-kilometre fibre-optic communication line connecting Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan across the bottom of the Caspian Sea. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
The announcement was made by the Akorda. The project was implemented jointly by Kazakhtelecom JSC and AzerTelecom.
A new communication route
According to the Akorda statement, this line is part of a new communication route connecting Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries, as well as China, with Europe. It may connect to communication systems located in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Strategic significance
The project is of strategic importance for the development of Kazakhstan's digital economy. In particular, the line launches an additional international communication line in the country, creates conditions for attracting global technology companies to the domestic market, and for developing cloud services and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Presidential remarks
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the importance of the project.
"We have launched a unique project of international significance. That is, it is news belonging not only to a transport corridor, but to an entirely new era, the stage of digitalisation," the Kazakh president said.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev noted that the launch of the line marks another step towards strengthening interaction between Central Asia and Azerbaijan.
"This line will be used by the countries of Central Asia, the people of the South Caucasus, and countries beyond. Thus, today we have launched a global project," the Azerbaijani president said.