The peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia is gradually expanding and, notably, doing so without external mediation. What initially appeared to be limited confidence-building measures is now evolving into practical forms of economic and infrastructural cooperation. If previous discussions focused primarily on the possibility of energy supplies to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory, the latest development is even more significant: Armenia will now receive international internet connectivity via Azerbaijan.
The signing of bilateral agreements between AzerTelecom and Telecom Armenia on providing Armenia with international internet connectivity through Azerbaijani territory marks a notable milestone in the changing dynamics of the South Caucasus. Beyond its commercial and technical dimensions, the agreement carries important geopolitical significance, demonstrating that Baku and Yerevan are increasingly capable of developing pragmatic forms of cooperation directly, without relying on external intermediaries.

From a technical perspective, the arrangement will allow international internet traffic to enter Armenia through Azerbaijan's fiber-optic infrastructure. Azerbaijan has invested heavily in developing modern telecommunications networks and has positioned itself as a regional digital transit hub. Under the agreement, international data traffic originating from Europe and Asia will be transmitted through Azerbaijan's backbone fiber-optic networks and then routed into Armenia via cross-border terrestrial connections. Such an arrangement will provide Armenia with an additional source of international connectivity, increasing the redundancy and resilience of its telecommunications infrastructure.

The agreement also contributes to the diversification of communication routes in the South Caucasus, further improving the reliability of regional telecommunications networks and promoting cooperation in the digital sector. In many respects, it reflects a broader strategic vision aimed at creating an integrated communications architecture across the South Caucasus and linking the region more closely with Central Asia through transcontinental fiber-optic infrastructure.

AzerTelecom plays a central role in this strategy. As Azerbaijan's leading telecommunications company, it provides wholesale internet transit services, communications solutions, and advanced digital services throughout the region. More importantly, the company is implementing the Digital Silk Way project, an ambitious transcontinental initiative designed to establish a new digital corridor connecting Europe and Asia.

For Armenia, this agreement may prove particularly advantageous. Historically, the country has relied primarily on international internet traffic transiting through neighboring states, namely Georgia and Iran. Georgia has served as Armenia's principal gateway for connectivity with Europe, carrying the majority of international traffic. Iran has functioned as an important secondary route, providing additional access to global networks. Armenia has also utilized two Russian-linked communication channels, including the Black Sea cable system and overland fiber routes.

The diversification of Armenia's internet access has become increasingly important in recent years. The gradual deterioration of Armenian-Russian relations has encouraged Yerevan to seek alternative channels of connectivity and reduce excessive dependence on a limited number of routes. In this regard, the Azerbaijani direction provides Armenia with an additional strategic option that strengthens the country's digital resilience.

Approximately one-fifth of Armenia's international traffic has traditionally been routed through Iran. Moreover, Armenian telecommunications operators have not only consumed international bandwidth but have also functioned as transit providers of internet traffic toward Iran, Afghanistan, and, more recently, Qatar. This demonstrates that Armenia's digital infrastructure already possesses a certain degree of regional mobility. Integration into Azerbaijan's digital transit networks could further enhance its role within broader Eurasian connectivity frameworks.

Perhaps the most important consequence of this agreement is that Armenia is gradually entering a new stage of overcoming its infrastructural isolation. In practical terms, it is joining what could be described as the South Caucasus digital trio. Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia will now all be connected to the Digital Silk Way project and participate in the development of an increasingly integrated regional internet architecture.

This development also fits into a much broader process of regional integration through digital connectivity. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are currently implementing an ambitious project to lay a fiber-optic cable across the bottom of the Caspian Sea, creating a high-capacity digital link between Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Simultaneously, another major initiative is advancing through the Black Sea, where submarine fiber-optic infrastructure is expected to connect the South Caucasus directly with Europe.

If these projects are successfully completed, the South Caucasus may emerge not merely as a transit corridor for goods and energy but as one of Eurasia's principal digital connectivity hubs. In this context, the prospective opening of the Zangezur Corridor acquires additional significance. While discussions around the corridor have largely focused on transportation and trade, its potential digital dimension should not be underestimated. Fiber-optic infrastructure running alongside transport routes could substantially increase the efficiency of east-west digital connectivity and further integrate the region into global communications networks.

The South Caucasus is increasingly moving toward a model in which energy corridors, transport routes, and digital networks become parts of a single integrated regional system. If current initiatives maintain momentum, the region has the potential to transform itself from a geopolitical periphery into one of the key connectivity hubs linking Europe, the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and the broader Eurasian space.