AzNET Project : Strategy

The Project is structured around three basic features of ICTs: their capacity to build networks for reliable and free information flow, to deliver content and to provide social and technological development tools. The Project will have four components built around these features:

ICT Networking - open a new dimension of many-to-many communication, which in the past was possible only in a physically contiguous space. Network effect is fundamentally feature of digital media: the capacity to identify, link and aggregate individuals and groups on a global scale and in real time;
Training and Content Development - aims to build local capacity to deliver consultancy, support and trainings for national e-Resources development, support and distributing. Project broadens the availability of the existing and new e-Resources (Web pages and portals, online guides, training materials and distance learning courses) for Civil and Information Society. Training and Content Development will be carried out in one convergent cluster. In the regions the process can be embodied with the involvement of Regional Information centers, established within the framework of National ICT Strategy Project; the existing OSI-AF infrastructure is to be covered and utilized actively as well;
ICT toolsets - robust, low-cost, highly scalable and have a powerful multiplier effect projects and resources which produce a systemic effect by changing the ICT environment in which different kind of mission-critical knowledge are deployed;
Policy Component - aims to develop an environment that makes possible for Civil and Information Societies to take advantages of the ICT. Public Policy is most important factor in promoting the infrastructure investment that is needed to provide low-cost access to the Internet and promote access and sharing of knowledge e-Resources through the networks and hosting facilities.

The Project aims to create a non-commercial and non-profit Application and Internet Service Provider (ISP) for the referenced constituencies: Higher Education and Research Institutions, High Schools, Libraries, NGO's, culture and community groups. Project is to promote the use of ICT and resolve current related issues within Azerbaijani academic, scientific, educational, non-governmental and governmental institutions and provide the target groups of users and organizations, who will express the desire to join to the project, with access to Internet-based information resources in support of expanded teaching, training and research within the country and abroad on a not-for-profit basis.

The Project continues development work started by NICTS Project, the AzRENA Association run by the Academy of Sciences, and the Information Program of the OSI-AF. It takes advantage of the assistance from the NATO's Virtual Silk Highway Project for external IP connectivity. This Project also will strongly use all kind of resources provided by NATO Science Program in frame of CARANA and NIG grants for infrastructure development in country. The network proposed by the Project will have presence in Baku and in the major cities and/or regions of Azerbaijan. The network is implemented as a DSL backbone with Points of Presence (POP's) collocated with Central Offices (CO's) of the PSTN (Baki Telephone Rabite Istehsalat Birliyi in Baku city, AzTeleCom in regions of AR). Network capacity to connect the POP's is rented from the Baku PSTN over the existing FO infrastructure connecting their CO's. The initial backbone speed should not be lower than 100 MBPS.

The number of CO's populated by the backbone is determined based on the spread of the customer base over the city, and may grow through the life of the Project.

Customers get DSL service at the speed commensurate with category and technical specifications, but not lower than 64 KBPS. Wireless and FO technologies can complement the DSL infrastructure, when appropriate. The network also operates an appropriate dial-up facility.

Outside Baku, the network creates POP's with the aim of covering the maximum of the country's territory, and using technology appropriate to each location. Remote POP's are connected to the network's core in Baku by lease lines of the appropriate capacity, with a view to encourage intra-network information exchange and content creation.

Initially, the NATO's Virtual Silk Highway Project provides external connectivity for the network. As the demand grows, the Project will consider buying extra bandwidth, from VSH or other sources.