YEREVAN — Armenia’s Telecom Armenia and Azerbaijan’s Azertelecom signed bilateral agreements on Monday for the reciprocal commercial transit of international internet traffic through each other’s territories, the companies announced.
The deal allows Azertelecom to route traffic for its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian infrastructure and enables Telecom Armenia to use Azerbaijani networks for transit, creating a new digital link between the two countries, according to statements from both operators and reports by Xinhua and RFE/RL.
Officials described the arrangement as a commercial agreement focused on improving route diversity and network resilience in the South Caucasus. It marks the first such direct telecommunications cooperation since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Telecom Armenia said the agreement expands the geographic reach of international internet traffic supply, while Azertelecom will provide transit services using its backbone infrastructure. The companies emphasized that the transit operates on a commercial basis without access to each other’s internal data networks.
The development comes amid broader efforts toward normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan following years of conflict. Some Armenian experts and commentators have expressed concerns over potential security implications, while others view it as a step toward greater regional connectivity and economic cooperation.
Azerbaijan’s connection to Nakhchivan has historically relied on routes through Iran or other paths. The new transit link is expected to enhance reliability for both sides. Details on the exact capacity and technical specifications, such as a reported 100 gigabits per second cable access, were mentioned in some reports but remain subject to confirmation by the companies.
Telecom Armenia’s leadership highlighted the reciprocal nature of the deal. “This agreement provides for the transmission and transit of internet through their respective countries on a commercial basis,” a company statement said.
The agreements were announced on June 22. No immediate details were released on implementation timelines or regulatory approvals required. Both governments have been informed of the commercial arrangement between the operators.
As of Tuesday, the companies said they were proceeding with preparations for the transit services. The deal is seen as a practical measure that could support wider regional infrastructure efforts in the South Caucasus.
