ArmInfo. Telecommunications transit between Armenia and Azerbaijan is not a one-sided affair, as it can become either a process of mutually beneficial cooperation or interdependence.
This opinion was expressed on his Facebook page by David Ananyan, a member of he Wings of Unity party and former Chairman of the State Revenute Committee of Armenia, following the signing of an internet transit agreement between Telecom Armenia OJSC and Azertelecom OJSC.
Ananyan noted that this agreement simultaneously affects regional digital infrastructure, channel diversification, mutual traffic, as well as national security, oversight, and public trust. As the former head of the State Revenue Committee recalled, according to available information, the parties signed a bilateral agreement providing for the transit of internet traffic through the territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan on a commercial basis. "The Armenian side emphasizes that Telecom Armenia provides transit capabilities to Azerbaijan using its infrastructure. The Azerbaijani side, in turn, presents the same agreement as providing a new route for Armenia's international internet connection through its territory," Ananyan recalled.
That is, as the politician noted, the essence remains the same, but the emphasis in the public perception differs. Because, as Ananyan explained, while the Armenian side presents the agreement as an opportunity for mutual transit and the expansion of Armenia's transit potential, from the Azerbaijani perspective, it largely fits into Azerbaijan's strategy of becoming a regional digital hub. "And this is no small matter. After all, infrastructure in the region has long ceased to be solely an economic issue; it also serves as an instrument of influence, dependence, control, and political positioning," the politician noted.
As Ananyan explained, if the process is managed correctly, Armenia could benefit in three ways: gaining additional diversification of external internet channels, strengthening Armenia's role as a provider of digital transit services, and creating a backup channel, reducing dependence on limited routes. In this regard, he said, the deal shouldn't be viewed as negative simply because the other party is an Azerbaijani company. At the same time, as the former head of the State Revenue Committee emphasized, Azerbaijan's interests must also be taken into account.
"Under this agreement, Azerbaijan can gain additional transit flexibility, strengthen connectivity with Nakhchivan, and present its 'digital corridor' and 'regional hub' strategy from a more robust position. Therefore, this is not a one-sided win-win situation. It is a process of mutually beneficial cooperation, and on the other hand, interdependence. And while traffic transit does not necessarily mean access to data content, since most internet content is protected in today's environment, this still does not eliminate all risks.
The transit operator can see or influence certain technical data, such as routes, IP addresses, connection volumes, and in some cases, metadata. Therefore, what is needed here is not emotional noise, but a clear security architecture," said a member of the Wings of Unity party.
According to Ananyan, a number of key questions remain open in the public sphere: what the border connection points will be, what capacity is involved, whether Armenian end-user traffic could ever be routed through Azerbaijani territory, which government agencies have assessed the security of the deal, and what control and protection mechanisms are envisaged. And, in his words, these questions are not a matter of excessive mistrust, but of responsible government thinking.
The politician believes that the agreement could be beneficial for Armenia if it serves to diversify communication channels, increase Armenia's transit capacity, and does not create opaque or one-sided dependence on Azerbaijan. However, he noted that the agreement could also become risky if its implementation is carried out without sufficient transparency, public accountability and explanations, as well as without measurable guarantees of national security. "The most sensible approach is not to reject the deal outright or approve it unconditionally, but to demand clarification, oversight, technical security, and state responsibility. Because telecommunications transit isn't just a business. It's critical infrastructure. And in the case of Armenia and Azerbaijan, it's also a matter of national security," Ananyan concluded.
As a reminder, on June 22, Team Telecom Armenia and Azertelecom signed a bilateral agreement providing for the transmission and supply of internet transit through the two countries on a commercial basis. Under the agreement, Telecom Armenia, as the leading transit operator in the region, expands the number of countries and the geography of international internet traffic, providing transit through its own infrastructure to Azerbaijan.
