31.07.26
Offshore operations have begun to lay an underwater fiber-optic cable along the bottom of the Caspian Sea. The project, which is expected to shape the region’s digital future, is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.
Specially Manufactured Cables Loaded onto a Vessel in Baku
As part of the preparatory phase, marine engineering surveys were completed in 2025. Military exercise zones and anchorage areas were bypassed, allowing specialists to determine the most optimal route.
After obtaining the necessary environmental permits from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management of the Mangystau Region, a specially armored cable equipped with ROPA optical amplifiers was manufactured and factory-tested in China.
The 600-ton shipment, which included approximately 400 kilometers of cable, was transported from China to Kazakhstan’s Kuryk Port and then delivered to Baku. At the Port of Baku, the cable was transferred into the vessel’s specialized storage tanks and prepared for installation.
Major Cable-Laying Vessel Begins Operations: Target Completion in 15–20 Days
According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry, the cable-laying vessel departed from the Port of Baku and began constructing the route toward the Port of Aktau. A specialized vessel with a displacement of more than 20,000 tons and equipped with an advanced dynamic positioning system was deployed for this technically demanding operation.
The vessel carries a crew of 70 people, including technical inspectors and representatives of Kazakhtelecom. A dedicated cable-jointing room has been installed on board to handle any emergency repairs. Optical testing of both the Kazakh and Azerbaijani cable ends has already been successfully completed. Weather permitting, the underwater installation is expected to be completed within 15–20 days.
Regional Countries Show Strong Interest
The infrastructure project is being implemented by CaspiLink B.V. (formerly Caspinet B.V.), a joint venture between Kazakhtelecom JSC and Azertelecom Int. LLC, and has attracted significant international attention. Earlier reports indicated that several countries in the region have expressed strong interest in joining the Trans-Caspian Fiber Optic Communication Line and becoming part of the global digital network.
Kazakhtelecom JSC Chairman Bagdat Musin also confirmed on social media that all logistical operations involving the 600-ton cable—described by him as the project’s “digital artery”—had been successfully completed, expressing satisfaction with the project's progress.
