The 17th BakuTel-2011 Azerbaijan International Exhibition of Telecommunications and Information Technologies has opened at the Baku Exhibition Center.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva reviewed the exhibition.
Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov informed the President about the exhibition. It was noted that the 17th BakuTel-2011 Azerbaijan International Exhibition and Conference of Telecommunications and Information Technologies, while covering all segments of information and communication technologies, also coincides with the 130th anniversary of the establishment of communications in Azerbaijan. Support on the part of such international organizations as the UN and the International Telecommunication Union and the fact that the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry has awarded the BakuTel exhibition the “Mark of Quality” are evidence of the importance attached to the event at the international level.
The head of state began touring the exhibition with the pavilion of one of Azerbaijan’s first mobile operators – Bakcell. The Azerbaijani President was informed in detail about the 3G, 4G and other services offered the company.
While reviewing the pavilion of DELTA Telecom, the President was informed that the company holds a special place on Azerbaijan’s ICT market. It successfully implements a number of important regional projects, such as the EPEG project which has been joined by the world's biggest telecom operators, the construction of a large DATA-center in Baku, etc. All DELTA Telecom projects are of regional importance.
Wireless telephone network CDMA of the Aztelekom Production Association was put into operation in Azerbaijan in September 2005. Over a short period of time, consistent measures were taken to introduce this service in districts. At present, a wireless telephone network of Aztelekom consisting of 32 base stations operates in 22 Azerbaijani districts and four cities. Specific measures are taken to introduce this service in other regions.
A company called Ultra is also successfully represented on the Azerbaijani market. Its clients extensively use such services as electronic circulation of documents, e-education, electronic signature, electronic banking, electronic guide, etc.
From the standpoint of Internet and other advanced ICT services, the Sazz company is considered one of the promising entities in Azerbaijan.
The society of futurologists of Azerbaijan has been in operation since 2006. This is a think tank involved, as part of the Millennium Project, in research of the future with the aim of early warning and analysis of long-term global strategies.
The 17th BakuTel-2011 Azerbaijan International Exhibition and Conference of Telecommunications and Information Technologies also has national pavilions of 18 countries.
The national pavilion of Israel displays innovations of NGSoft, NFC and other companies. Visitors can obtain detailed information about Israeli software companies, mobile payment systems, content management systems, mobile and Internet banking and other services.
In the School of the Future section of the exhibition, fifth-grade students of lyceum number 261 showed President Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva their knowledge of the ICT on a multi-touch screen and a “smart board”.
Six Canadian companies, also interested in cooperating with Azerbaijan, are represented at the BakuTel-2011 show for the first time.
While reviewing the national pavilion of Turkey, the head of state was informed that companies from the fraternal country have been represented on Azerbaijan’s ICT market since the first years of our independence. At present, Azerbaijan and Turkey cooperate closely in the ICT sector and make consistent effort to introduce the latest scientific and technological innovations in Azerbaijan.
Latvia is another country expanding its ICT relations with Azerbaijan with each year. DPA and other companies from this country are introducing a series of new products.
A strong interest in Azerbaijan’s ICT market is also taken by Austrian companies, which is explained by the favorable business environment for both local and foreign companies. Skidata and other companies have already joined a number of major projects in Azerbaijan, such as the Shahdag winter resort.
President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva were shown a videoconferencing system based on cutting-edge scientific and technological developments. It was noted that this system can establish a direct video link with several locations.
As Azerbaijan’s strategic partner, Romania intends to expand its activities on Azerbaijan’s ICT market in line with the documents signed between the two states. SIVECO Romania SA has joined such important projects in Azerbaijan as “Management of the national education system and e-learning”.
President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva were briefed on the preparations for the 2012 Football World Cup among girls under 17 due to be held in Azerbaijan. The head of state was shown a system for online sale of tickets to the World Cup. It was noted that any foreign national may purchase a ticket for the forthcoming championship using this system.
Azerbaijan’s First Lady and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva pushed a button to start the countdown for the World Cup among girls under 17.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies is also widely represented in the show. Minister Abbasov spoke about a series of ongoing projects to thoroughly develop the country’s ICT sector. According to official statistics, Azerbaijan’s ICT sector expands almost twice every three years. In about 10-15 years, its revenue will be comparable to that of the oil and gas sector.
Azerbaijan and France cooperate closely in the ICT sector, including the space program. France will launch Azerbaijan’s first telecommunications satellite into orbit in the fourth quarter of 2012.
The President was informed of the measures being taken to expand postal services in Azerbaijan.
Also extensively represented at the 17th BakuTel-2011 exhibition are Iranian companies featuring their innovations.
The pavilion of Belarus is quite diverse. Azerbaijan expands its ICT cooperation with this country and BakuTel shows play an important part from this perspective.
One of the countries closely cooperating with Azerbaijan in the ICT sector is Estonia. Companies from this country demonstrate systems providing comprehensive control and transparency of economic entities.
Azerfon LLC is a company applying a series the most advanced ICT services in the CIS to Azerbaijan.
Greeting President Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva at the pavilion of mobile operator Nar Mobile were winners of the Eurovision-2011 Song Contest – Nigar Jamal and Eldar Gasimov.
It was indicated that thanks to a new service to be offered by the company in April 2012, it will be possible to use mobile phones on the flights of the Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC. The company is implementing specific projects relating to the introduction of 3G mobile communication to the social sphere and other directions.
While reviewing the pavilion of Azercell Telecom LLC, President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva were informed that the company constantly expands its activities in the country. The exhibition features a number of the company‘s innovations.
After touring the exhibition, President Ilham Aliyev wished its participants every success and gave instructions and recommendations.
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BakuTel-2011, the biggest telecom show in the Caspian and Caucasus regions, has been organized by Iteca Caspian, a Caucasus partner of the British ITE Group. This year’s show has been joined by over 250 companies from 29 countries. More than 40 per cent of the exhibition pavilions display the products of local IT companies, mobile operators, distributors, communication operators and service companies. The exhibition provides an impetus to the comprehensive development of ICT companies and creates additional opportunities for the production of goods meeting international standards. The innovations exhibited in the show also serve to promote innovative products, services and technologies on the national market and facilitate Azerbaijan’s integration into the global information space.
The exhibition will last until 26 November.
