Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.9
By Huseyn Valiyev - Trend:
Azerbaijan's Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) sector is one of the most dynamically developing fields of the national economy for lucrativeness and general profitability of this type of business. The growth of the ICT sector in the country amounted to nearly 20 percent in 2013 and the government comprehensively supports its development.
Key events of 2013
Launch of the first telecommunication satellite of Azerbaijan
The launch of the first telecommunications satellite of Azerbaijan Azerspace/Africasat-1a into the orbit in early February became the key and the most significant event of 2013 in the ICT sphere.
Azerspace/Africasat-1a satellite was launched into the orbit by the Ariane 5 ECA launcher part of the French Arianespace company. Azerspace/Africasat-1a satellite was launched from the start complex ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre.
The payload of Azerspace/Africasat-1, built on the STAR-2 platform, consists of 36 transponders (24 C-band transponders and a 12 Ku-band range). The frequency band of each transponder is 36 MHz. The satellite weighs 3275 kg and its service life in orbit will extend up to 15 years.
The satellite was launched into geostationary orbit at 46 degrees east longitude leased from Malaysia's Measat Satellite Systems, owned by the government of Malaysia.
Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North Africa are included in the service area of Azerspace/Africasat-1a.
U.S. firm Orbital Sciences Corporation is the producer of Azerspace/Africasat-1a satellite. Azerbaijan's telecommunications satellite Azerspace/Africasat-1a is designed to provide digital broadcasting, Internet access, data transmission and the creation of VSAT multiservice networks and governmental communications. Azerbaijan's revenue from the implementation of the first satellite programme hit $10 million in 2013. Over 50 percent of the satellite's resources have been sold by Azerbaijan's satellite operator. Almost 70 TV channels and radio channels are broadcast via the satellite, 19 being local.
Creation of Electronic Security Centre
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree in March aimed at ensuring the activity of the Electronic Security Centre under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies.
The statute on the centre was approved by this decree. The centre will coordinate the activity of information infrastructure entities in the field of cybersecurity and inform about existing and possible electronic danger, enlightenment of population, private and other entities (users) in the field of cyber security.
The measures of the electronic security centre will be preventive in nature. Educational work will play an important role. A 'hot line' will be created under the centre. It is planned to use a three-digit telephone number and citizens can apply and get the necessary recommendations on the information security.
The centre will prepare recommendations and define the criteria that must be met to increase the level of protection and to protect the information bases from unauthorised intrusion.
The centre plans to publish analytical surveys and statistics indices for computer attacks, as well as the number of fixed network incidents and virus activity.
The main purpose of the report preparation is to be timely, informing users about the threats. This will significantly reduce the damage from virus and hacker attacks. The report with recommendations on improving the information security level of systems will be prepared on the basis of analysis of the information on the registered incidents.
Mobile platform for an electronic digital signature
In early 2013, the Information Centre of the Azerbaijani Communications and IT Ministry introduced an authentication system for access to the 'electronic government' portal by using mobile devices (mobile phones and tablet computers). The matter rests in an application that will provide an access to the 'electronic government' portal by using mobile devices.
The new system enables users to create digital certificates by using a two-factor authentication system and then to gain access to the e-government portal (e-gov.az) by scanning a QR- code.
ASAN Service centre No 1 began issuing the mobile digital signature (ASAN-imza) in the first six months of 2013. The new platform for the ASAN-imza mobile signature centre was integrated with the platforms of Azerbaijani mobile operators - Azercell Telecom and Bakcell.
It is necessary to change a SIM-card to be able to use the mobile digital signatures and the centre has made it possible for the mobile operator's representatives to work there to facilitate it.
The mobile digital signature can be used on all kinds of mobile phones, as well as desktops, laptops and tablets. PIN-codes for the Asan-Imza (Mobile ID) SIM-card are printed on the SIM-card itself and protected with an erasable layer. PIN1 code is needed for personal identification and PIN2 code is required only for signature.
The first IT university
The University of Information Technologies was established in order to form a highly qualified human resource capacity for creation of an information society in Azerbaijan and meet the country's growing needs in highly qualified personnel.
Admission of applicants to the University of Information Technologies was announced in mid-2013.
Applications were received by specialties in information security, computer science, computer engineering, and information technologies and systems engineering.
In the first academic year at the University of Information Technologies, students are taught the English language. Then, in the next four years they will be able to get education in English in the specialties chosen by them.
Aside from that, the Azerbaijani Communications and Information Technologies Ministry will provide all possible assistance to the university's graduates in achieving a master's degree abroad as well as provide incentive awards in the form of additional grants, participation in summer schools and so on.
Mechanism for support to start-up projects
This year the provision on Azerbaijan's State Fund for Development of Information Technologies was approved.
The state fund prepared mechanisms for effective distribution of funds to support the start-up projects (start-up - business idea, designed for quick implementation).
Preferential financing will be provided through the state fund for issuing loans and grants in order to promote activities in the field of ICT in Azerbaijan. Advantages of the State Fund for Development of Information Technologies will be available for all categories of the population.
The prepared criteria will allow the state fund to effectively and efficiently allocate financial resources for supporting innovative ideas. The necessary documents on this issue have already been prepared and approved by the state fund's Supervisory Board.
It is expected that all the documents will be made public soon.
The first bids on start-ups are expected to be held by early 2014. The main purpose in holding them is to select the most effective and promising projects in the sphere of information and communication technologies. It is planned to give small, medium and large loans, as well as grants through the State Fund for development of information and communication technologies in order to finance the projects.
The amount of the small loans ranges from 10,000 to 50,000 manat over three years, medium loans from 50,000 to 500,000 manat up to five years and large loans from 500,000 to five million manat up to 10 years. The interest rate on loans will not exceed five per cent per annum.
The maximum amount of a grant can be 300,000 manat for a period of 36 months. Small grants are considered to range from 10,000 to 100,000 manat, while medium grants from 100,000 to 200,000 manat and large grants from 200,000 to 300,000 manat.
Five banks- Paşa Bank, Bank Respublika, Demir Bank, Rabita Bank and VTB Bank (Azerbaijan) have already been involved in financing IT-projects, but this list may be extended to 10 authorised fund agents.
High-tech park
The Business Incubation Centre of the High-tech park was established in Baku. The centre includes an incubation centre as well as the head office of the park.
ICT projects will be accepted starting from January 2014. The centre's activity will be based on two principles.
The first, the so-called 'Open office', will allow a person to work individually on one specific project. The second is a 'shared office' which may include up to five companies. Each company may work on a project in a team.
Participants of the business incubation centre will be provided with computer equipment and internet access. If necessary, the centre will be ready to provide the necessary support to project initiators. Only promising projects may claim for development at the incubation centre. Once the project reaches the desired stage of development, the start-up projects will be moved to the High- tech park.
The High-tech park is to be constructed in the Pirallahi district of Baku with 50 hectares of land allocated for its construction.
Currently, work is underway on the formation of the park, the construction of the necessary infrastructure, the study of international experience and other arrangements.
The official exchange rate for Jan.9 is 0.7845 AZN/USD.
Translated by L.Z., N.H., E.A., M.L.
Edited by S.M.