WorldDAB member focus: Teleradio PU, Azerbaijan

18.07.2025 - Teleradio PU WorldDAB Member - Azerbaijan

by Rebecca Keene, Stakeholder Relations Manager, WorldDAB

Q&A with Orkhan Karimov, Head of Project Management Department at Teleradio PU

Teleradio PU’s has recently joined WorldDAB as a member, please could you explain a bit about your main reasons for joining and what you hope to get out of your membership?

We know that the leading global organisation related to DAB+ is WorldDAB, and this served as the initial motivation for us to consider membership. Naturally, after learning about the advantages that membership offers, we decided to join. Our main objectives were to familiarise ourselves with your internationally respected organisation and to follow global developments related to DAB+. We also aimed to be able to address our inquiries to your organisation and receive guidance, as well as benefit from vendor discounts facilitated through your support. Your organisation collaborates closely with global suppliers in the DAB+ market and organises various events with their participation, enabling stakeholder interaction. This is crucial for fostering new partnerships and cultivating a competitive market environment. Digital solutions are continually evolving, and new market participants use your platform to present themselves. Your platform, which showcases multiple formats, is also convenient for broadcasters, allowing them to connect with companies offering more modern and cost-effective equipment.

What market does your company support and what products/solutions do you provide?

Our organisation is the national infrastructure operator responsible for radio and television broadcasting throughout the Republic of Azerbaijan. In addition to broadcasting services, our towers also support mobile operators and equipment from other public and private entities. We also uplink Azerbaijani TV channels to the "Azerspace" satellite. Furthermore, we provide more than 200 SD and HD IPTV content packages — featuring TV programs from various countries — to service providers. Our mobile uplink station is available to transmit live broadcasts to satellites upon request. Most of our organisation’s revenue is derived from terrestrial TV broadcasting (DVB-T/T2) and FM radio broadcasting. Broadcasting equipment is sourced internationally — primarily from Europe and partly from China. High-power broadcasting equipment is procured from reputable European vendors known for their high quality (and price), while low-power equipment is purchased from less prominent suppliers. Since the DAB+ network is still in the early stages of development, we regularly receive proposals from both established and emerging vendors in the market. We are interested in evaluating these proposals and establishing new partnerships.

Can you tell us about your most recent projects?

To implement recent Presidential Decrees, a project is currently underway to restore radio and television broadcasting in Karabakh. By the end of 2025, reconstruction, restoration, and modernisation works are scheduled to be completed at 10 broadcasting stations. So far, eight Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations have been restored and are operational: Shusha, Shahyeri, Kalbajar, Minjivan, Khanlig, Balasoltanli, Lachin, and Hasanriz. These stations are broadcasting DVB-T standard digital television and FM radio services. The remaining stations in the project plan are scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. Following this, the need for additional proposals will be assessed based on the results of radio frequency monitoring and the migration schedule.

What do your customers value most from your products and solutions?

Our organisation operates as a natural monopoly under state ownership and serves as the infrastructure operator for terrestrial radio and television broadcasting across the country. It is the primary provider of services to terrestrial broadcasters. Other services offered include shared use of infrastructure, technical maintenance of third-party equipment, IPTV service, and more.

Currently, the main challenge lies in the implementation of the DAB+ project. Since citizens already own FM radio receivers, they are generally not yet interested in purchasing additional DAB+ devices at extra cost. At present, DAB+ receivers are only available through Azerbaijan’s national postal operator, "Azerpost" LLC. However, even if DAB+ radio broadcasting is expanded across the country, the sustainability and success of these efforts may remain uncertain unless positive developments occur soon.

What advice would you give someone considering deploying DAB+?

The transition to digital technologies is a requirement of the times. Each digital technology is a new quality and convenience. DAB+ technology also brings multimedia services and offers several advantages. However, before introducing DAB+ radio, it is necessary to familiarise the population with it well so that there are no difficulties with reception and no problems with further promotion. Also, in this direction, it is necessary to improve regulatory and legal acts and take incentive measures for entrepreneurs and the population. It is crucial to define the objectives clearly from the outset and, if a DAB+ switchover is planned, to implement it in a well-structured yet timely manner.