The Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable is the first cable ever laid across the Caspian Sea. With the&nbsp;undersea section completed in August and commercial service expected this fall, the cable opens&nbsp; a new high-capacity data route linking Central Asia to Europe through the South Caucasus. It adds&nbsp; route diversity and resilience to a region whose international connectivity has long depended on a&nbsp; narrow set of paths. The project arrives as governments across Central Asia and the South&nbsp; Caucasus pursue ambitious AI and digital infrastructure agendas, and as global demand for subsea&nbsp;capacity reaches unprecedented levels.

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The Caspian Policy Center is delighted to host the companies behind the cable, together with U.S.&nbsp;government and industry experts, to discuss how the project was built and what it means for the&nbsp;region. The panel will examine the engineering and logistical challenges of the first Caspian&nbsp;crossing, the role of trusted infrastructure in attracting hyperscalers and data center investment,&nbsp;and the opportunities for U.S. partnership in the region&rsquo;s growing digital economy 
 
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9:00-9:30 am | Breakfast&nbsp;

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9:30-9:35 am | Opening Remarks&nbsp;

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<ul>
	<li>Efgan Nifti, Chief Executive Officer, Caspian Policy Center</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

9:35-10:00 am | Diplomatic Perspectives &nbsp;

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<ul>
	<li>H.E. Khazar Ibrahim, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States&nbsp;</li>
	<li>H.E. Magzhan Ilyassov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States</li>
</ul>

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Moderated by Daniel Runde, Advisory Board Member, Caspian Policy Center

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10:00-11:00 am |&nbsp;Moderated Discussion and Q&amp;A&nbsp;

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<ul>
	<li>Ean Hundley, Director, ICT and Infrastructure Policy, Office of Foreign Policy, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Ana Nakashidze, Chief Executive Officer, AzerTelecom International</li>
	<li>Bagdat Mussin, Chief Executive Officer, Kazakhtelecom (TBC)</li>
	<li>Romina Bandura, Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development, CSIS&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

Moderated by Dr. Akbota Karibayeva Meyer, Research Fellow, Caspian Policy Center

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Wired Across the Caspian: The Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable  and the Future of Digital Connectivity

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This report is produced by the Caspian Policy Center (CPC), an independent,&nbsp;nonprofit, nonpartisan, policy institute that promotes research and advocacy on&nbsp;topics related to society, politics, economics, security, culture and international&nbsp;relations specific to the broader Caspian region. CPC provides policymakers, experts,&nbsp;and the public with authoritative research and analysis, as well as innovative ideas&nbsp;and events, to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of this evolving and&nbsp;complex region. CPC does not take specific policy positions. All views, positions, and&nbsp;conclusions in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the&nbsp;author(s).

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<a class="magazine_detail_read_button" href="https://api.caspianpolicy.org/media/ckeditor_media/2026/06/09/the-middle-corridor-moment.pdf">Read Full Report</a>

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