BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The Azerbaijan Hospitality Connectivity Summit was held in cooperation with the Information and Communication Technologies Agency (ICTA), Ookla, Azerbaijan Hotel Association and Azerbaijan Tourism Board, Trend reports.
The summit featured speeches of Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Samaddin Asadov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau Florian Sengstschmid, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ookla Stephen Bye and a number of officials.
Speaking at the event Samaddin Asadov said that fiber broadband internet access in Azerbaijan has grown from just 9% to nearly 100% for households and businesses.
According to him, over the past five years, Azerbaijan has achieved a remarkable digital transformation through the Online Azerbaijan project.
He noted that the aim of this initiative, which was launched in 2021 as part of the strategic roadmap for the development of the internet infrastructure in the country, was to provide access to high-speed broadband internet for all its citizens, especially in underserved and remote regions.
"By the end of 2025, this project achieved full coverage across the country. This achievement has fundamentally reshaped the fixed broadband internet market in Azerbaijan. The impact of this transformation is clearly reflected in the performance indicators. According to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence, the median speed of fixed broadband internet across the country has increased from approximately 10 Mbps in 2020 to approximately 90 Mbps by the end of last year," Asadov explained.
Ookla President and CEO Stephen Bye outlined that artificial intelligence (AI) will affect all areas of life.
According to him, Ookla's mission is to improve connectivity for everyone and everywhere. As people travel the world, the main goal is to improve the quality of that connection.
The CEO noted that whether people are connected via 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, or even fiber to the property, the last 5-10 meters really impact how a customer perceives that performance.
"So when looking at the guest experience, what AI brings, and what the future holds, having reliable, consistent connectivity everywhere and every time is essential. That's the exciting part of the future. It will affect everything we do, all the content we interact with. It will affect how we learn, how we communicate, and how we socialize. The interesting thing about AI is that to realize the promise of these capabilities, you need reliable and consistent connectivity. So as important as it is today, connectivity will become even more important in the future," he explained.
CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) Florian Sengstschmid mentioned that Azerbaijan has aligned its hotel classification system with European standards.
According to him, tourism in Azerbaijan is no longer limited to places and attractions. Today, the visitor experience is shaped by digital connectivity as much as culture, nature, and hospitality.
He noted that the availability and quality of connectivity directly affect people's planned trips, decisions, movement between places, and real-time interaction with services.
"This context is extremely relevant for Azerbaijan. In recent years, the country has made significant progress in the field of digital infrastructure, achieving almost universal broadband internet coverage and advancing national digital development initiatives. This creates a solid foundation not only for the development of tourism but also for positioning Azerbaijan as a reliable and competitive host for international business events, conferences, and large global gatherings, where stable and high-capacity connectivity is essential," the CEO explained.
Sengstschmid emphasized that hotels and event venues across the country are implementing digital guest services and 'smart' solutions, including to support international event organizers.
"At the same time, Azerbaijan, in cooperation with HOTREC and the Hotel Stars Union, has aligned its hotel classification system with European standards. Thus, digital readiness and reliable connectivity, including Wi-Fi, across all star categories are not considered an additional advantage but a core quality standard.
Connectivity also plays a key role in attracting digital nomads and long-term guests, including visitors who combine business with leisure. These segments increasingly value destinations where work, travel, and everyday life seamlessly blend," the CEO mentioned.
