Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan Launch Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable to Strengthen Asia-Europe Digital Connectivity

Baku, The Gulf Observer: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks in Baku on October 15, 2026, reaffirming the strong strategic partnership and allied relations between the two countries and inaugurating the Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable Line to enhance digital connectivity between Asia and Europe.

During their meeting, the two leaders welcomed the successful development of bilateral relations and highlighted the importance of their reciprocal visits in expanding cooperation across various sectors.

They also discussed the successful organization of the seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku, noting that the summit had provided an important opportunity to discuss regional cooperation among Asian countries. The presidents exchanged views on issues on the bilateral agenda.

Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable Project Inaugurated

Following their meeting, Presidents Aliyev and Tokayev officially inaugurated the Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable Line through an online ceremony, marking a significant milestone in regional digital infrastructure development.

Implemented jointly by Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan under the Digital Silk Way initiative, the project involves approximately 380 kilometres of fiber-optic cable laid along the seabed of the Caspian Sea between Sumgayit in Azerbaijan and Aktau in Kazakhstan. The cable has a capacity exceeding 400 terabits per second.

The project is expected to strengthen the Middle Corridor’s role as a strategic route for both transportation and digital connectivity. It will enable data to be transmitted from China and Central Asia to Europe through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia, with onward connections via the Black Sea or Türkiye.

The new infrastructure is also expected to expand international data exchange, improve the resilience of digital communications and position both countries as providers of strategic digital infrastructure and services.

Furthermore, the cable line is expected to attract investment and support the development of artificial intelligence data centres, cloud services and computing capacity, creating opportunities for high-value-added technology industries and services.

Leaders Highlight Strategic Importance of Digital Corridor

Speaking at the inauguration, President Tokayev described the initiative as an important project with international significance, emphasizing that it represented a new form of cooperation suited to the digital age.

He noted that the initiative went beyond a traditional transport corridor, reflecting innovation and the growing importance of digitalization in regional connectivity.

President Aliyev said the project represented another step towards strengthening cooperation between Central Asia and Azerbaijan. He highlighted Azerbaijan’s participation as a full member in the Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Heads of State and said the cable would serve countries across Central Asia and the South Caucasus, as well as a wider geographical region.

President Tokayev described the initiative as the “Middle Corridor in a digital form,” underlining its significance in connecting regional economies through modern communications infrastructure.

The two presidents jointly pressed a button to officially launch the project.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan Sign Transport Cooperation Agreement

Later, in the presence of the two heads of state, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev and Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev exchanged the signed Agreement on Cooperation in the Development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor.

In a separate development, Rashad Nabiyev, in his capacity as chairman of the AZCON Supervisory Board, and Nurlan Zhakupov, chairman of the Management Board of Samruk-Kazyna JSC, exchanged a certificate confirming the acquisition of two dry cargo vessels between AZCON Holding and Samruk-Kazyna JSC.

The initiatives reflect the two countries’ commitment to expanding strategic cooperation in digital infrastructure, transport and regional connectivity, further strengthening links between Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Europe.