BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 14. Back in the early days of 2020, the average speed was barely crawling at a mere 10 Mbps. By the dawn of 2025, it had shot up to over 73 Mbps—a leap of more than 7.3 times the original figure.
Data obtained by Trend from the Ookla Speedtest indicates that, alongside the surge in speed, fiber-optic coverage has also expanded nearly to the entire country. While fiber-optic coverage was limited to just 9 percent in 2020, this figure approached 100 percent by 2024, greatly reducing the digital divide, particularly in rural areas.
Much of this progress is attributed to the “Online Azerbaijan” initiative, launched in 2021 to bring high-speed internet to households and businesses across the country.
The project was initiated by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport as part of the Strategic Roadmap for the Development of Telecommunications and Information Technologies.
The ministry’s goal has been to provide internet access of at least 50 Mbps to approximately 95 percent of the population—including those in remote regions—while maintaining stable pricing. Officials say the program also aims to strengthen the digital economy and attract foreign investment.
