The President of Azerbaijan Does Not Use Artificial Intelligence: “I myself do not use artificial intelligence. But I have family members who use it. They sometimes inform me about it. But probably, someday I will use it too,” said President Ilham Aliyev. “The spread of artificial intelligence is happening so rapidly that the number of users will be significant. The main concern is that artificial intelligence does not lead us away from the values we know,” the head of state added.
ICTA Warns Citizens About Wi-Fi Modems: Fixed broadband internet subscribers should exercise caution when choosing Wi-Fi devices. This warning comes from the Information and Communication Technologies Agency (ICTA). The agency recommends replacing 2.4 GHz modems with 5 GHz models. While 2.4 GHz modems theoretically support speeds up to 60 Mbit/s, in practice they often deliver less than 50 Mbit/s.
Huawei Holds Presentation at BSU, Meeting at BEU: A presentation and discussion session on Huawei’s digital solutions – Smart Campus and Smart Classroom – was held at Baku State University (BSU). The event aimed to explore opportunities for cooperation under the Huawei ICT Academy initiative. Representatives from Huawei also held a meeting at Baku Engineering University (BEU), where the company was represented by Angela Lin, Vice President for the Middle East and Central Asia.
Azerbaijan Advances in Average Internet Speed Rankings: In June, Azerbaijan ranked 83rd out of 152 countries in terms of average fixed broadband internet speed, reaching 81.36 Mbit/s -up four positions compared to May. According to the Speedtest Global Index, the country’s average fixed broadband speed has more than doubled compared to a year ago (39.87 Mbit/s). In terms of mobile internet, Azerbaijan ranked 55th out of 103 countries in June, rising two positions from May, with an average speed of 72.52 Mbit/s. Baku maintained its position in fixed broadband rankings, placing 115th out of 196 cities with a speed of 78.78 Mbit/s. However, in mobile internet speed, the capital fell three places to 87th out of 150 cities, with an average of 88.2 Mbit/s.
19 Fake Domains Imitating State Institutions Blocked: In the first half of this year, 19 fake domains mimicking the names of state institutions were blocked in Azerbaijan, according to the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security. This figure is 21% lower than in the same period last year. During the first six months of 2025, 26 new domains were registered by state institutions – 37% fewer than the year before. Additionally, 130 new subdomains were created for state agencies, marking a 17% decrease compared to the previous year. In 2024, state agencies registered 64 new domains and 367 subdomains. In total, 100 fake domains were identified and blocked during the reporting period.
TikTok Removes Over One Million Videos in Azerbaijan: In the first quarter of 2025, TikTok removed more than one million videos in Azerbaijan. Of these, 99% were removed proactively—before any complaints were filed. Moreover, 97% were taken down within 24 hours of publication, which exceeds the global average. As a comparison, more than three million videos were removed from the platform in Azerbaijan over the course of last year.
HONOR Opens First Official Brand Store in Azerbaijan: HONOR has launched its first official brand store in Azerbaijan, located on the first floor of 28 Mall in central Baku. The opening ceremony was attended by Jing Xi, Head of HONOR Azerbaijan, and Aris Shikhaliyev, CEO of local partner Irshad. The store offers HONOR’s Magic, N, X, and 400 Series smartphones with AI features, as well as tablets (including models with keyboard and stylus support), a variety of laptops, smartwatches, and audio devices. Special opening promotions will run until the end of the month.
Over 6,000 Citizens Fall Victim to Hackers: According to the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security (SCIS), 95 employees across 47 state institutions became victims of hacker attacks in the first half of 2025. Notably, 16% of those targeted were employees with administrative privileges. This raises serious concerns about internal cybersecurity controls in these institutions and indicates that necessary security measures have not been adequately implemented. The State Anti-Corruption Commission has instructed the affected agencies to take appropriate actions. A total of 6,164 citizens – users of public services – also fell victim to hacker attacks during the same period.
Meeting Held with Internet Providers and Operators: A meeting was held at the Information and Communication Technologies Agency (ICTA) with internet service providers and operators. It was reported that in newly constructed buildings, only 4-fiber Ethernet cables are being installed up to apartment units. This creates technical limitations that prevent internet providers from offering speeds above 100 Mbit/s. To support higher-speed services, the installation of at least 8-fiber Ethernet cables is recommended.
More Than 20 Broadcasting Operators Fined: The Audiovisual Council has commented on the unauthorized broadcasting of the Club World Cup in public catering establishments. Based on court decisions, access to online resources of about 20 foreign broadcasters was restricted, and each was fined 5,000 manats. The enforcement process is still ongoing.
