Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 7 / corr. Trend H.Valiyev /
The TeliaSonera Company, the leading telecommunications provider in Europe, has expressed a willingness to join the Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway (TASIM) project, the head of the working group on the project Ilyas Naibov-Aylisli told Trend.
"Negotiations on the accession of the Scandinavian operator to the project have been carried out at the highest level. At the meeting, the head of TeliaSonera expressed a willingness to participate in the project," Naibov-Aylisli said.
He said the company's participation in the TASIM project will be considered at the next meeting of members, scheduled for December.
According to him, completion of work on the creation of a consortium is planned by the end of this year, following which construction will be launched.
"According to optimistic forecasts, the construction of the cable is planned to be completed by the end of 2013 with its commission scheduled for 2014. The main issue is the construction of an underwater cable to be laid on the bottom of the Caspian Sea. Negotiations on the sea area are being led with the Kazakh side, "he said.
The TASIM project includes such countries as Russia (Rostelecom operator), Kazakhstan (KazTransCom operator), Turkey (TurkTelecom operator), China (ChinaTelecom operator), as well as Azerbaijani Azertelekom.
The network of operators involved in the project has been developed sufficiently. At presen work is planned to be conducted on the areas where a cable has to be laid. The Caspian segment is one such.
Launching the construction operations of underwater fibre-optic cable is scheduled for mid-2013.
Azerbaijan's resolution to create a Trans-Eurasia Information Superhighway TASIM was adopted during the 66th plenary meeting of the United Nations.
The UN expressed support for the project which aims to reduce poverty and accelerate economic growth. It will play a role as an engine for the development of the region. The TASIM project aims to connect a total of 20 countries. Its implementation will eliminate the 'information gap' between the countries of Western Europe and the Pacific Rim.
