BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 31. Installation of the Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Communication Line (FOCL) along the seabed of the Caspian Sea between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan has begun.
According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the optical cable, previously delivered from China to the port of Kuryk, along with three large cable baskets with a total weight of 600 tons, was loaded onto a specialized logistics vessel and transported to Baku.
"The transport baskets have now been completely emptied, and the entire digital artery has been successfully transferred into a dedicated cable tank on board the vessel. The ship has departed from the Port of Baku and has begun laying the cable toward the Port of Aktau," the ministry said.
A specialized cable-laying vessel with a displacement of more than 20,000 tons has been deployed for the project. The vessel is equipped with an advanced dynamic positioning system and carries a crew of 70, including technical supervision specialists and a representative of Kazakhtelecom.
The project is being implemented by CaspiLink B.V. (formerly Caspinet B.V.), a joint venture established by Kazakhtelecom and AzerTelecom Int. A dedicated Jointing Room has been installed on board to handle emergency situations or cable damage. Both ends of the cable - the Kazakh and Azerbaijani sections - are currently housed there, while all conductors and optical fibers have already undergone testing.
"Under favorable weather conditions, the direct installation of the subsea cable is expected to be completed within 15-20 days, while the overall implementation of the technological and commissioning works is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026," the ministry said.
The ministry noted that during the preparatory phase in 2025, onshore and offshore engineering surveys were completed, the optimal route was selected taking into account anchorage areas and military exercise zones, environmental approval was obtained from the Mangystau Region Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, and the specialized armored cable with integrated ROPA optical amplifiers was manufactured and factory-tested in China.
Following the completion of the preparatory stage, the project entered the active phase of offshore construction. The Trans-Caspian fiber-optic communication line is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2026.
