Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have reached a landmark agreement to construct a fibre optic communication line across the Caspian Sea, a move set to enhance digital connectivity between Asia and Europe. The project, which will link Aktau in Kazakhstan to Siyazan in Azerbaijan, aims to boost data transmission capacity and improve internet infrastructure across the region.
Strategic digital corridor between East and West
The agreement was signed during Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov’s official visit to Baku, where he met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Ali Asadov. The discussions underscored the strong bilateral relations between the two nations, focusing on trade, economic relations, transport, logistics collaboration, and cultural ties.
In 2024, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan reached $533 million. Kazakhstan has expressed readiness to increase exports of 130 non-commodity goods worth over $340 million to Azerbaijan.
The new trans-Caspian fibre optic cable is part of a broader strategy to strengthen digital ties between Central Asia and the South Caucasus, creating a high-speed data corridor between China and Europe. This initiative is expected to enhance regional digital integration, support cloud computing services, and improve cybersecurity infrastructure.
🤝 Today, the General Assembly of the Legal Entities Union of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route Int'l Association (TITR IA) was held in Baku.
— Azərbaycan Dəmir Yolları/Azerbaijan Railways – ADY (@Azdemiryollari) March 4, 2025
🛤️ Discussions highlighted the Middle Corridor’s growing role as a key transport artery & the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway’s… pic.twitter.com/TdwPxerdYD
Transportation cooperation was a key focus, highlighted by a 62% increase in cargo volume along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), reaching 4.5 million tons. Additionally, the effective integration of the Digital Trade Corridor platform between the railways of both countries was emphasized.
This initiative is part of the broader Digital Silk Road project, aiming to improve internet connectivity in Central Asia and the South Caucasus. The cable is expected to span approximately 380 kilometers along the seabed, with a data transfer capacity estimated at around 400 terabits per second.
Geopolitical and economic implications
Beyond its technical advantages, the fibre optic cable carries important geopolitical and economic significance. With growing global demand for secure and efficient data routes, the project offers an alternative digital corridor that bypasses traditional routes through Russia and Iran.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts to develop the Middle Corridor, a trade and transport route that links China with Europe via Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye. Strengthening digital infrastructure along this route is expected to boost investment and economic cooperation.
