Baku: Azerbaijan Metrology Institute (AzMI) has taken an important step toward establishing the national time infrastructure, the Agency told APA-Economics. For the first time, the National Time Standard – UTC (AZ) – has been approved by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Azerbaijan is now among the countries that possess a laboratory contributing to UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). The Time and Frequency Measurements Laboratory of AzMI regularly sends information to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures regarding the time difference between the national time and satellite systems.

Considering the importance of accurate time for government institutions, the private sector, the financial and transportation spheres, as well as telecommunications networks, and with the aim of reducing dependence on external sources, the Time and Frequency Measurements Laboratory of AzMI has been reconstructed in accordance with modern requirements. This initiative falls within the framework of the ‘2022-2026 Socio-Economic Development Strategy,’ approved by the relevant Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The laboratory has been equipped with high-precision cesium atomic clocks, satellite signal receivers, and an NTP (Network Time Protocol)-based time distribution system.