At the Mobile World Congress 2026, Azercell‘s CTO, George Held, shed light on how the company’s cutting-edge infrastructure is transforming Azerbaijan into a digital leader. The company’s commitment to building robust digital infrastructure aims to establish Azerbaijan as a vital transit point linking Asia, Europe, and beyond.
Held likened this digital development to constructing a crucial “road” of prosperity and happiness in today’s world. Azercell has made significant progress with nationwide fibre deployment, upgrading its network to GPON technology capable of delivering speeds up to 50 Gbps. This powerful network bolsters employment, global economic integration, and opportunities for local communities.
The company is also a pioneer in the integration of AI into its infrastructure. Held emphasized the importance of autonomous, self-healing networks that adapt in real-time. These systems can dynamically reroute traffic, ensuring optimal performance even during high-demand periods or challenging environmental conditions.
Autonomous networks promise not only connectivity but enhanced user experiences with diverse speeds and low latency. This capability was tested successfully during major events like the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix and a Justin Timberlake concert. “We were able to switch the traffic automatically from one place to another,” said Held, demonstrating the seamless user experience.
Besides these high-demand scenarios, these autonomous networks also address environmental challenges, such as adverse weather affecting mountainous regions. By rerouting traffic based on need, capacity is allocated where it enhances stability and efficiency.
Further advantages of autonomously managed networks include the unlocking of revenue growth opportunities through improved customer experience. While high speeds are valuable, Held believes the reliability of services is paramount. Smoother service delivery leads to increased traffic volumes and customer satisfaction.
Emerging technologies and enterprise services greatly benefit from low latency, stated Held. It enhances AI applications and seamless automatic processing. As part of nurturing local talent, Azercell supports young engineers with AI tools that enable efficient data access and rapid learning, leveling the playing field with industry veterans.
Held emphasized AI’s transformative potential globally, asserting, “Innovation has no ZIP code.” He underscored that groundbreaking ideas could emerge from places like Baku, not only Silicon Valley. As a testament to this, young engineers in Azerbaijan are harnessing AI to improve network service delivery, thereby positioning the country as a competitive player on the global stage.
