Azerbaijan joins global UTC Network as BIPM confirms National Time Standard

The Azerbaijan Metrology Institute (AzMI), operating under the State Service for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control under the President of Azerbaijan, has achieved a major milestone in developing the country’s national time infrastructure, Azernews reports, citing the agency.

For the first time, Azerbaijan’s National Time Standard — UTC(AZ) has been officially recognized by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM).

With this achievement, Azerbaijan has joined the group of countries that operate laboratories contributing to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). AzMI’s Time and Frequency Measurement Laboratory regularly submits data on the time difference between the national time scale and satellite systems to the BIPM.

In line with the “2022–2026 Socio-Economic Development Strategy,” endorsed by a Presidential decree, the laboratory has been modernized to reduce dependence on external sources of precise time — a critical resource for government institutions, the private sector, finance, transportation, and telecommunications networks.

The upgraded laboratory is now equipped with high-precision caesium atomic clocks, satellite signal receivers, and an NTP-based (Network Time Protocol) time distribution system.

The recognition of UTC(AZ) will ensure accurate, reliable, and secure timekeeping for key sectors such as finance, telecommunications, transportation, and energy. It will also create a foundation for scientific research in time metrology, support the development of national expertise, and accelerate technological progress.

The establishment of the National Time Standard is not only a technical achievement but also a strategically significant step for Azerbaijan’s economic security, information sovereignty, and international credibility.