Tehran and Baku Strengthen Frequency, Space, and Infrastructure Cooperation

TEHRAN (Iran News) On the sidelines of the 2025 World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) in Baku, Iran’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology met with Rashad Nabiyev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport. The two officials discussed infrastructure collaboration, frequency coordination, expansion of space-related cooperation, cybersecurity, and strengthening data transit routes between the two countries.

During the meeting, Seyyed Sattar Hashemi expressed appreciation for Azerbaijan’s “excellent” hosting of the ITU summit, noting that relations between Iran and Azerbaijan have been growing in recent months, particularly following the Iranian president’s visit to Baku.

Hashemi underscored the president’s continued efforts to enhance bilateral relations, stating: “Iran and Azerbaijan are two long-standing friendly nations with inseparable ties, and digital and infrastructure cooperation represents a key component of their strategic interests.”

Hashemi stressed that one of the main areas of collaboration is frequency provisioning and signal management in border regions—an issue that has faced challenges for years.

He noted that regular and continuous meetings between the two sides, along with the appointment of a special representative to monitor the issue, have led to the finalization of important agreements and have opened the path for regulatory cooperation.

The minister also highlighted joint work on satellite communications as another significant area of partnership, adding that the alignment of Tehran and Baku’s technical approaches can support closer cooperation in space-based services and spectrum management.

Pointing to complementary capacities in digital governance, telecommunications networks, and joint IT projects, Hashemi said that Iran is fully prepared to expand cooperation in satellite programs, infrastructure, data transit, and cybersecurity.

He emphasized that establishing stable and strategic data transit routes—along both the North–South and East–West corridors—is in the interests of both countries and that Tehran welcomes deeper cooperation in this area.

During the meeting, Azerbaijan’s Minister Rashad Nabiyev expressed appreciation for Iran’s role in regional cooperation and welcomed the drafting of a joint memorandum of understanding in the field of information and communication technologies. He said the document could be signed during the next meeting of the two presidents.

Nabiyev also announced Azerbaijan’s readiness to cooperate in the development of remote-sensing satellites, cybersecurity, and joint space projects. He noted that purchasing satellite imagery and collaborating on space-based business ventures are among Baku’s key areas of interest.

Referring to infrastructure cooperation with the Delta company and the role of both countries in regional transit corridors, he emphasized the importance of establishing joint data corridors. He proposed creating an ICT expert committee and holding B2B meetings to identify new opportunities and partnerships between Iranian and Azerbaijani companies.

Nabiyev also suggested exchanging the draft ICT memorandum of understanding so it can be finalized and signed during his upcoming visit to Tehran for the 2026 Caspian Communications Ministers Summit.