Work has started on the marine survey for the construction of the Trans-Caspian fiber-optic cable line — a key element of the “Digital Silk Road” project aimed at creating a new digital corridor between Europe and Asia. The corridor will eventually pass through Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.

The survey covers coastal areas and the seabed to determine the optimal route with a focus on safety and environmental sustainability, according to AZERTAC on Wednesday. Work is underway simultaneously in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and will last up to four weeks.

The underwater cable, stretching 380 kilometers, will connect Sumgait (Azerbaijan) and Aktau (Kazakhstan) across the Caspian Sea floor. With a capacity of up to 400 Tbps, the line will enable the transmission of large volumes of data. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026. AzerTelecom and Kazakhtelecom are the main contractors, with technical supervision provided by the US-based company Pioneer Consulting.

The Trans-Caspian line will become part of the Digital Silk Road corridor running through Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. The project aims to create an optimal high-capacity route with minimal data transmission latency, fostering regional cooperation and the development of digital infrastructure.