TASIM

TASIM (acronym: Trans Eurasian Information Superhighway) project is a main regional initiative aimed at creation of fast connectivity between Europe and Asia by establishment of transnational fiber-optic backbone targeting foremost the countries of Eurasia. TASIM project provides building a major new terrestrial route connecting Frankfurt to Hong Kong. Therefore, this line will connect the biggest exchange point in Europe with the biggest exchange point in Asia. The line of the main route will pass Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey to Germany. An auxiliary northern route includes Russia, Ukraine and Poland.
History
In November 2008, over the Ministers’ Summit held within the framework of the 14th Azerbaijan International Telecommunication and Information Technologies Exhibition and Conference the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Azerbaijan put forward the initiative to assume a project on building of the Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway (TASIM). On November 11, 2008 a special Baku Declaration to create the Transnational Eurasian Information Super Highway was adopted in Baku.

Furthering global support:

On 21 December 2009, the 64th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution (A/Res/64/186) on Transnational Eurasian Information Super Highway. Co-sponsored by 30 countries and adopted by consensus the resolution acknowledges the role of the Republic of Azerbaijan in coordination of TASIM.
On 21 December 2012, to speed up the fulfillment of the project, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a new resolution (A/Res/67/194), which contributed to the update of political support of the UN for project TASIM.
In order to promote the expansion of transit routes of regional telecommunications, as well as the development of the private sector, civil society, international development institutions and intergovernmental cooperation, this resolution has supported the creation of the Eurasian Connectivity Alliance in conjunction with the International Telecommunication Institute. This, in turn, promotes policy dialogue on telecommunications transit route, regional promotion, support collaboration, increase education, and also serves to provide opportunities for the exchange of experiences and knowledge.

The political support of UN to create Eurasian Connectivity Alliance which facilitates the policy dialogue on telecommunications transit route, regional promotion and support of cooperation, the growth of education, as well as serving as the creation of opportunities to exchange experiences and knowledge has been updated with the following resolution (A/Res/67/298) adopted without a vote at the 67th session of the General Assembly held on September 4, 2013.
Key concepts
Realization of TASIM project will give following major benefits for region countries:
- Improved regional and global connectivity
- Route diversification
- Improved disaster resiliency
- Bridging digital divide and contribution to SDGs
- Contribution to regional innovation and modernization
Eurasian Connectivity Alliance
EuraCA’s Goals:
* Contributing to the creation of an open information society in the region by increasing the speed of Internet connection and the number of Internet services;
* Supporting economic diversification and competition by creating new ICT enterprises and sectors in the field of software engineering and creative industries;
* Facilitating the emergence of new intra- and inter-regional cooperation spaces, for example in the field of trade and entrepreneurial development;
* Creating a common multi-stakeholder platform for high-level policy dialogue within Eurasia to tackle complex issues regarding the social impact of ICTs;
* Establishing common channels of best practice exchange and learning based on the experience of EuraCA partner countries and individual organizations.
EuraCA’s Mission:
* Cross-national services, information and content exchange;
* Affordable broadband connectivity within Eurasia;
* East2West Trans-Eurasian continuity.
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EuraCA is a platform to:
* Promote policy dialogue and raise awareness;
* Facilitate experience and knowledge exchange;
* Promote international cooperation (governments, UN system organizations, IFI, regional groupings).
Membership
To found appropriate consortium and collaborate with the view of implementation of TASIM project, Azerbaijan side and leading telecom operators of the following countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on December 3, 2013.
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* Azerbaijan - International Relations and Accounting Center of the MCIT
* China - China Telecom Global Limited
* Kazakhstan - KazTransCom JSC
* Russia - Rostelecom OJSC Long-Distance and International Telecommunications
* Turkey - Türk Telekom
TASIM Secretariat
In April 2010, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan has established and funded an Executive Group on TASIM as a vehicle for project implementation. The Executive Group, in cooperation with a team of international consultants, created initial business concept for TASIM and negotiated establishment of TASIM consortium with the leading regional countries and operators.
In July 2011 in Gabala, as an outcome of this preparatory work, Azerbaijan hosted The First International Workshop on TASIM, with the participation of leading telecom operators from Azerbaijan, China (China Telecom), Kazakhstan (Kaz TransCom), Russia (Rostelecom), Turkey (Türk Telekom) and European Union (Pantel). A Project Secretariat was established during this meeting. At the present, the Headquarter of the TASIM Project Secretariat is situated in Baku city.

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