First Trans-Caspian fiber-optic cable completed, linking Europe, Asia PHOTO

Construction of the first submarine fiber-optic cable across the Caspian Sea has been completed, marking a major milestone in the Digital Silk Way project, an Azerbaijani-led initiative aimed at creating a new high-capacity digital corridor linking Europe and Asia.

The 380-kilometre Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable Line, jointly implemented by AzerTelecom and Kazakhtelecom, stretches from Sumgayit, Azerbaijan, to Aktau, Kazakhstan. The armored cable was laid along a secure route on the Caspian seabed using a specialized cable-laying vessel equipped for deep-water operations, Caliber.Az reports.

The project represents the first installation of its kind on the floor of the Caspian Sea and is expected to significantly strengthen regional digital connectivity.

Emphasizing the project's strategic importance, Emil Masimov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AzerTelecom, said the submarine cable is a cornerstone of the Digital Silk Way initiative.

"One of the key components of the Digital Silk Way project, which will establish a new digital corridor through Azerbaijan, is the installation of a fiber-optic cable line across the Caspian Sea. The main technical challenge was that such infrastructure was being created on the seabed of the Caspian Sea for the first time. The successful completion of this stage will enable internet traffic exchange between Europe and Asia via the Caspian Sea in the near future," Masimov said.

Work is now focused on integrating the submarine cable with coastal infrastructure and completing the associated terrestrial network. The Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable Line is expected to enter commercial operation by the end of 2026.

Once operational, the first underwater digital backbone across the Caspian Sea will provide international transmission capacity of more than 400 terabits per second (Tbps), enabling high-volume data transmission while supporting the expansion of digital services and cloud infrastructure throughout the region.

The cable forms a central component of the broader Digital Silk Way project, which spans Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, and Bulgaria. The corridor is designed to become the shortest and most efficient route for data transmission between Europe and Asia, offering high bandwidth, low latency, and enhanced network resilience while promoting regional cooperation and sustainable digital development.

AzerTelecom, the region's largest international backbone telecommunications operator, provides internet transit, data transmission, and wholesale connectivity services. The company is part of Azerconnect Group, which operates under NEQSOL Holding.

Its project partner, Kazakhtelecom, is Kazakhstan's national telecommunications operator and the country's largest telecom provider, offering fixed-line, broadband, mobile, and digital communications services.

By Vafa Guliyeva