Digital Divide Country Profile · Asia

Azerbaijan

Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.

National digital inclusion context

A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.

This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to Azerbaijan in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.

The documented portfolio emphasizes Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure, Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure, Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure, Fiber/Fiber Optic, GPON. The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.

Portfolio pattern

What the documented response contains.

Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.

Infrastructure and access

Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure20
Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure2
Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure2
Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure2
Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure1

Specific technologies

Fiber/Fiber Optic18
GPON16
FTTH2
LEO Satellite1
Satellite Broadband1

Intervention classification

Infrastructure and Specific Technology20
Neither explicitly identified3
Infrastructure only2

Education and workforce

Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.

2 initiatives explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 0 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.

Access

Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.

Capability

Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.

Participation

Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.

Sustainability

Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.

Project and initiative portfolio

25 documented records

Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.

High-capacity fixed broadband

1 Gbps Fixed Broadband Technology Demonstration

Tested Jul 2023 · Baku

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Status / periodTested Jul 2023LocationBakuPopulationHouseholds and businessesOrganizationsBaku Telephone Communications LLC

Demonstrated gigabit-class access capability as the national fiber network expanded.

Activities and approach: 1 Gbps broadband

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic

Broadband speed/affordability innovation

250 Mbps Retail Fiber Tariff Introduction

Launched Sep 2023 · National urban fiber market

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Status / periodLaunched Sep 2023LocationNational urban fiber marketPopulationResidential consumersOrganizationsBaku Telephone Communications / operators

Increased commercially available fiber speeds, supporting meaningful use of the nationwide GPON build.

Activities and approach: 250 Mbps fiber tariff

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

District fiber broadband

Aghsu District GPON Expansion

Implemented · Aghsu city and dozens of villages

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Status / periodImplementedLocationAghsu city and dozens of villagesPopulationHouseholds and businesses across the districtOrganizationsAztelekom

Provides GPON access across the district, reaching more than 90% of farms/households at the documented stage.

Activities and approach: GPON fiber

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

Village fiber broadband

Balik Village Broadband Extension

Planned/implemented with Ivanovka rollout · Balik village

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Status / periodPlanned/implemented with Ivanovka rolloutLocationBalik villagePopulation115 documented subscribersOrganizationsAztelekom; Ministry

Extends the Ivanovka-area fiber build to a neighbouring village.

Activities and approach: GPON/fiber

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

Affordability/competition

Broadband Wholesale Price and Competition Reform

Ongoing · Nationwide

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Status / periodOngoingLocationNationwidePopulationConsumers and ISPsOrganizationsTelecom authorities

Improves affordability through lower wholesale/retail prices and competition.

Activities and approach: Wholesale regulation

Rural fiber broadband

Gadashoba Village First Rural GPON Build

Implemented from 2021 · Gadashoba, Khachmaz

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Status / periodImplemented from 2021LocationGadashoba, KhachmazPopulationMore than 1,000 familiesOrganizationsAztelecom

Introduced village-level GPON in a rural area, extending fiber beyond urban centres.

Activities and approach: 10+ km fiber; GPON

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

Village fiber broadband

Ivanovka Village GPON Project

Operational · Ivanovka village

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Status / periodOperationalLocationIvanovka villagePopulationVillage households and businessesOrganizationsAztelekom; Ministry

Introduces high-speed fiber broadband to a rural village using GPON.

Activities and approach: GPON fiber

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

Regional fiber backbone

Karabakh and East Zangezur – 1,000 km Backbone Build

Completed 2025 phase · Karabakh and East Zangezur

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Status / periodCompleted 2025 phaseLocationKarabakh and East ZangezurPopulationReturning residents, businesses and institutionsOrganizationsAztelekom; AZCON Holding

Builds a resilient regional fiber backbone supporting reconstruction and new broadband access.

Activities and approach: About 1,000 km fiber backbone

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic

Regional FTTH/GPON

Karabakh and East Zangezur – 25 OLT GPON Deployment

Implemented 2025 · 9 cities and 27 villages/settlements

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Status / periodImplemented 2025Location9 cities and 27 villages/settlementsPopulationHouseholds and businesses in reconstructed settlementsOrganizationsAztelekom; AZCON Holding

Provides fixed high-speed Internet through local GPON access nodes.

Activities and approach: 25 OLTs; GPON

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFTTH

Subscriber access expansion

Karabakh and East Zangezur – 4,308 New Subscriber Connections

Implemented 2025 · Liberated territories

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Status / periodImplemented 2025LocationLiberated territoriesPopulation4,308 new household/business subscribersOrganizationsAztelekom

Converts new regional network infrastructure into actual household and business broadband adoption.

Activities and approach: GPON subscriber connections

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureTelecommunications / Broadband InfrastructureGPON

Urban fiber broadband

Khankendi City GPON Telecommunications Rollout

Operational Mar 2025 · Khankendi city

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Status / periodOperational Mar 2025LocationKhankendi cityPopulationResidents and businessesOrganizationsAztelecom; Ministry of Digital Development and Transport

Provides all populated residential areas and businesses with high-speed Internet and converged telecom services.

Activities and approach: GPON fiber

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

Regional fiber broadband

Khojaly Region GPON Telecommunications Rollout

Operational Feb 2025 · Khojaly region

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Status / periodOperational Feb 2025LocationKhojaly regionPopulationResidents and businessesOrganizationsAztelecom; Ministry of Digital Development and Transport

Provides all populated residential locations and business entities in the region with Internet and telecom services.

Activities and approach: GPON fiber

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

District fiber broadband

Khojavend District Settlement GPON Rollout

Implemented 2025–2026 · Khojavend district

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Status / periodImplemented 2025–2026LocationKhojavend districtPopulationResidents and businesses in resettled communitiesOrganizationsAztelekom

Extends modern fiber services into resettled communities as reconstruction progresses.

Activities and approach: GPON; fiber backbone

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

Residential fiber broadband

Lachin 800-Home GPON Network

Implemented / restoration programme · Lachin city

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Status / periodImplemented / restoration programmeLocationLachin cityPopulation800 householdsOrganizationsAztelecom

Restores high-speed fixed telecom services for resettled households.

Activities and approach: GPON fiber to 800 homes

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

Mountain rural fiber broadband

Lahij and Ten Surrounding Villages GPON Project

Implemented/expanding · Lahij and surrounding mountain villages

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Status / periodImplemented/expandingLocationLahij and surrounding mountain villagesPopulationResidents and schoolchildren in remote mountain communitiesOrganizationsAztelekom; Ministry

Extends fiber broadband to mountainous settlements where geography raises deployment costs.

Activities and approach: GPON; local fiber build

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

EducationK–12

Mobile broadband

Liberated Territories 300 Mobile Base-Station Deployment

Implemented / ongoing · Liberated territories

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Status / periodImplemented / ongoingLocationLiberated territoriesPopulationResidents, returnees and travelersOrganizationsMobile operators; Ministry of Digital Development and Transport

Extends mobile service and broadband coverage across restored settlements and transport areas.

Activities and approach: 300 mobile base stations

Mobile / Wireless InfrastructureTower / Site Infrastructure

Mobile broadband

Mobile Broadband Network Extension

Ongoing · Nationwide/rural gaps

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Status / periodOngoingLocationNationwide/rural gapsPopulationMobile usersOrganizationsGovernment; mobile operators

Expands mobile broadband coverage and capacity.

Activities and approach: Mobile infrastructure

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure

Fixed broadband

National Fixed Broadband Modernization

Ongoing · Nationwide

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Status / periodOngoingLocationNationwidePopulationHouseholds and businessesOrganizationsGovernment; operators

Modernizes fixed broadband infrastructure for higher-speed access.

Activities and approach: Fixed fiber/xDSL modernization

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureTelecommunications / Broadband InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic

Household FTTH/GPON

Online Azerbaijan – 650,000 Household Fiber Milestone

Implemented milestone · 60 regions and cities

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Status / periodImplemented milestoneLocation60 regions and citiesPopulationAbout 650,000 households at the documented milestoneOrganizationsAztelekom; partner operators

Shows large-scale household conversion to fiber, including remote villages.

Activities and approach: GPON fiber access

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFTTHFiber/Fiber Optic

Nationwide fixed broadband

Online Azerbaijan Nationwide GPON Megaproject

Completed March 2025 · Nationwide

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Status / periodCompleted March 2025LocationNationwidePopulationHouseholds and businessesOrganizationsMinistry of Digital Development and Transport; Aztelekom; partner operators

Completed a nationwide modern fixed-broadband build designed to provide high-speed service through GPON and other modern technologies.

Activities and approach: GPON/fiber fixed access

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureLast-Mile / Access InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

Residential fiber broadband

Shusha 500-Home GPON Network

Implemented 2023 · Shusha city

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Status / periodImplemented 2023LocationShusha cityPopulation500 householdsOrganizationsAztelecom

Restores high-speed fixed telecommunications for returning residents.

Activities and approach: GPON fiber to 500 homes

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

Rural digital inclusion

Smart Village Digital Skills and Adoption

Ongoing · Selected villages

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Status / periodOngoingLocationSelected villagesPopulationRural residentsOrganizationsGovernment of Azerbaijan

Builds skills and adoption alongside infrastructure.

Activities and approach: Digital skills/local innovation

Education

Rural broadband

Smart Village High-Speed Connectivity Pilots

Ongoing · Selected villages

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Status / periodOngoingLocationSelected villagesPopulationRural residents and businessesOrganizationsGovernment of Azerbaijan

Uses high-speed connectivity as a smart-village foundation.

Activities and approach: Rural broadband/digital platforms

Satellite broadband market entry

Starlink Azerbaijan Satellite Internet Registration

Registered Jun 2025 · Nationwide / remote-access potential

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Status / periodRegistered Jun 2025LocationNationwide / remote-access potentialPopulationUsers beyond terrestrial broadband reachOrganizationsStarlink Azerbaijan LLC; Ministry regulator

Creates a licensed pathway for high-speed satellite Internet in areas where fiber or mobile coverage may be difficult.

Activities and approach: LEO satellite Internet

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureSatellite InfrastructureFiber/Fiber OpticLEO Satellite

Rural fiber broadband

Zardab Three-Village GPON Build

Implemented from 2021 · Shaftahal, Ashaghi Seyidlar and Mehdililar, Zardab

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Status / periodImplemented from 2021LocationShaftahal, Ashaghi Seyidlar and Mehdililar, ZardabPopulationAbout 500 familiesOrganizationsAztelecom

Extends fiber broadband to three rural villages.

Activities and approach: 3+ km fiber; GPON

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureGPONFiber/Fiber Optic

Evidence boundary

Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.

Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.

Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.

Evidence and contextProfile Sources

These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.

Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Azerbaijan. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/azerbaijan/
International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): Azerbaijan. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=AZ
World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: Azerbaijan. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=AZ

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