Azerbaijani Deputy Communications and IT Minister: First phase of talks on East-West project completed

The first stage of negotiations to establish a consortium under the project to create the transnational information superhighway East-West  has ended, Azerbaijani Deputy Communications and IT Minister Elmir Velizade said at the Azerbaijan Investors Summit-2011.

Velizade said the largest telecommunications operators from 6 countries, including Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and China, have expressed their willingness to participate in this project.

East-West is intended to connect a total of 20 countries. The project will eliminate the information gap existing between countries in Western Europe and the Pacific basin. The realization of the project will eliminate the "gap" between the countries within Western Europe and the Pacific basin.

The project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase involves laying cable line from Eastern Europe to China, which will run under the Caspian Sea. Under the second phase, it will be possible to provide connection of the Eurasian countries, and particularly in Central Asia, under profitable rates.

A memorandum on the formation of a consortium to design the East-West super information highway will be signed in 2011. The creation of the consortium will lead to the commercial realization of the project.

A resolution submitted by Azerbaijan to create an information superhighway was adopted by the U.N. during its sixty-sixth plenary meeting.

The organization expressed support for the project, which aims to reduce poverty and increase economic growth. The project will serve as an engine for regional development.


/Trend/