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Broadband access rate up over 20 percent in Azerbaijan

27 March 2013 20:04 (UTC+04:00)
Broadband access rate up over 20 percent in Azerbaijan

By Nigar Orujova

The number of broadband accesses to the Aztelekom production association of the Communication and Information Technologies Ministry exceeded 114,000 as of early 2013, which is 21 percent more than in the beginning of 2012, Aztelekom said on Wednesday.

According to the company, the share of broadband internet services in the total revenues of the operator reached 22 percent, a 11 percent increase compared to early 2012.

Aztelekom plans to increase the number of broadband connections up to 200,000, which will increase monthly income from Internet services to 3 million manats (some $3.8 million), with an average 15 manat ($19) service fee.

The company forecasts coverage of all the settlements of the country with fiber-optic lines until the end of the year.

Aztelekom's broadband internet penetration plan envisions covering the country with 3.5 kilometer-long fiber-optic lines.

The creation of broadband infrastructure has drawn the interest of private providers, encouraging them to expand their business in the regions. 19 operators are currently providing internet services outside the capital city of Baku.

Increasing TV and radio broadcasting quality, transition to digital broadcasting, expansion of broadband services, and further development of electronic services and simplification of access to e-services are the main priorities of ICT development in the country.

Over the past three years, Azerbaijan has maintained its leading position among the CIS countries in terms of broadband Internet penetration.

Internet penetration rates increased from 65 to 70 percent in 2012. Work was carried out to improve the quality of data transmission services. The capacity of international communication channels more than doubled compared to 2011 and fees were reduced by 35 percent.

At present, Internet fees for connection speed of 1 Mbit/s account for about 3 percent of the average wage in Azerbaijan. For comparison's sake, the fees are up to 20 percent of wages in developing countries.

Some 103 million manats (about $131 million) have been allocated for the implementation of a broadband Internet development project in Azerbaijan in 2013, which means further spread of broadband Internet in the country and an increase of Internet users to 85 percent.

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