Mali's Internet Revolution: Surprising Facts & Bold Plans for a Digital Future

by Marcin Frąckiewicz
in Digital Transformation, Internet, Technology
on 2 September 2025

Only about one-third of Mali’s people are online: Mali’s internet penetration stands at roughly 33–35% of the population as of 2024, highlighting a huge gap in access extensia.tech. By contrast, about 67% of Malians have mobile phone service, showing many still lack internet despite owning phones extensia.tech.
Mobile is king – fixed internet is rare: Over 98% of all telecom connections in Mali are via mobile networks, while fixed broadband lines (like DSL or fiber) reach barely 1% of the population developingtelecoms.com worlddata.info. Most Malians get online through 3G/4G cellular data, as home broadband is virtually nonexistent outside a few urban areas.
A handful of providers serve the nation: Orange Mali (part of France’s Orange group) is the dominant operator, alongside Sotelma/Malitel (now branded Moov Africa Malitel, formerly state-owned) budde.com.au. A third operator, Telecel Mali, launched in 2017 budde.com.au. A fourth license was awarded to Algeria’s Mobilis in 2019, potentially bringing more competition if it commences service budde.com.au.
Coverage is uneven – 4G in cities, 2G in villages: While basic 2G mobile signals cover virtually 100% of the population, faster networks lag behind. As of 2023, about 30% of Malians had no 3G coverage and nearly 47% had no 4G coverage extensia.tech. High-speed internet is largely confined to cities like Bamako, meaning rural communities often have only slow or no internet at all.
High costs and tough terrain pose challenges: The average Malian user would spend over 16% of their income for a modest mobile plan (2 GB data), versus a 4.5% world average worlddata.info. Mali’s landlocked geography and vast desert areas make infrastructure hard to deploy, and the country relies on undersea cables via neighbors for bandwidth – which keeps internet prices high budde.com.au. Decades of conflict and instability have also delayed building a national fiber backbone and telecom towers in many regions developingtelecoms.com.
Government investing to bridge the gap: Mali’s government, through its universal access agency AGEFAU, budgeted 43.3 billion CFA (≈$72 million) in 2025 for projects to extend telecom coverage extensia.tech. Plans include new rural telecenters, expanding mobile network reach, and even telemedicine programs to leverage connectivity extensia.tech. The state has also pushed infrastructure projects like the “Mali Numérique” national fiber optic network developingtelecoms.com and regained majority ownership of Sotelma to drive telecom development budde.com.au.
Global partners boost connectivity: International initiatives are helping Mali get online. For example, Mali and Guinea signed a deal to interconnect their fiber networks to improve international bandwidth and resilience developingtelecoms.com. Orange has built a regional fiber backbone (“Djoliba”) linking Bamako with submarine cables on the coast, reducing dependence on any single route budde.com.au. And in a novel partnership, Orange Mali teamed with satellite operator Intelsat to deploy satellite-backed 3G/4G sites in over 60 remote communities – reaching 360,000 people who were previously offline satelliteworldtoday.com satelliteworldtoday.com.
Satellite internet arrives (after some drama): SpaceX’s Starlink low-Earth orbit service is poised to expand internet access in Mali’s hardest-to-reach areas. The government initially banned Starlink kits in early 2024 over security fears (militants were abusing them), but later lifted the ban to allow regulated use for 6 months dabafinance.com. By 2025, Mali is expected to officially authorize Starlink, joining a wave of African countries embracing satellite broadband extensia.tech. Starlink could be a game-changer for rural Mali, with monthly plans in Africa typically around $28–$34 and offering high speeds via a small dish restofworld.org. Other satellite providers (like OneWeb and Viasat) and VSAT services are also eyeing Mali, but Starlink’s low-cost, high-speed model is generating the most excitement.
Urban–rural digital divide remains wide: Internet access in Mali is heavily skewed toward urban centers. Bamako and large towns enjoy multiple 4G networks, fiber points, and cyber cafés, whereas many villages have only patchy 2G phone service or none at all extensia.tech. This divide mirrors other inequalities – rural areas, especially in the north and central regions, suffer from insecurity, poor electricity, and low literacy, all of which compound the connectivity gap developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com. Bridging this divide is a priority in Mali’s development plans, as better rural internet is seen as key to economic opportunity and social inclusion.
Future outlook – toward a connected Mali: The coming years could see a significant jump in Mali’s connectivity. Mobile operators are expanding 4G coverage deeper into the country and even trialing 5G in Bamako – Orange Mali launched a 5G pilot in the capital in 2021–2022 360mozambique.com. The entrance of Mobilis (Algérie Télécom’s mobile arm) could spur competition on prices and coverage. Government and donor-funded projects aim to lay more fiber and connect border regions, while satellite broadband will likely play a growing role in connecting schools, clinics, and homes off the grid. Projections suggest steady growth in internet use – from just over one-third of the population today to perhaps a majority within the next decade if current efforts succeed. Mali’s goal is to turn the internet from a luxury into a utility for all, unleashing digital services from e-learning to e-commerce across the country.

Introduction

Mali, a large landlocked nation in West Africa, is undergoing a digital transformation against challenging odds. Internet access has grown from almost zero at the turn of the century to reaching roughly a third of the population today extensia.tech. This expansion is driven primarily by mobile phones, as fixed broadband infrastructure is scarce developingtelecoms.com. However, millions of Malians – especially in rural and conflict-prone areas – remain offline, highlighting a significant digital divide. In this report, we delve into the state of internet access in Mali, covering how people get online, who provides the service, the hurdles faced in building networks, and what initiatives are underway to connect the unconnected. We also examine new developments like satellite internet and assess what the future may hold for Mali’s digital landscape.

General Availability and Penetration Rates

Internet availability in Mali has improved markedly in recent years but is still limited in scope. As of early 2025, roughly 8.7 million Malians were using the internet – about 35% of the population extensia.tech. This means two out of three people in Mali do not have any internet access yet, a penetration rate well below the global average. The vast majority of users come from urban centers and more developed regions, with the capital Bamako being the most connected. By comparison, basic mobile phone ownership is much higher (~67% of the population has a mobile subscription extensia.tech), indicating that many Malians have phones but lack data service or coverage to use the internet.

Growth in internet usage is steady but not explosive – penetration was around 20% in the mid-2010s and has inched up into the 30% range by the mid-2020s extensia.tech. Several factors account for this moderate growth. One is the cost of access, which remains prohibitive for many. Mali consistently ranks among the countries where the cost of data is high relative to incomes. In 2024, a basic monthly mobile plan (including 2 GB data) cost about 16.2% of average income in Mali, far above the ~4.5% global average worlddata.info. This means that even where internet service exists, many people (especially in poorer rural communities) find it hard to afford regular connectivity.

Another factor is simply the reach of infrastructure. A significant portion of Mali’s population lives in remote or rural areas where internet service (particularly the mobile data networks) may not reach. By late 2023, about 30% of Malians still lived outside of any 3G network coverage, and nearly half had no 4G/LTE coverage available in their area extensia.tech. In practical terms, those without 3G/4G coverage are essentially cut off from modern internet – at best, they might get slow 2G connections (good for calls and texts, but not for data-heavy use). This gap in coverage drags down the overall internet penetration figures.

It’s also worth noting that user demographics show disparities. Urban residents, younger people, and men tend to have higher internet usage rates, whereas rural populations, older adults, and women often have less access – reflecting broader social divides. While exact figures for Mali aren’t readily available in all categories, these trends mirror patterns seen across Sub-Saharan Africa. Overall, Mali’s internet penetration, just over one-third of the population, underscores both the progress made and the large untapped potential if accessibility improves.

Types of Internet Access in Mali

Mali’s internet landscape is heavily skewed toward mobile connectivity. The country has leapfrogged traditional fixed-line internet in favor of cellular networks, as is common in Africa. As a result, about 98% of all internet connections in Mali are via mobile networks (3G/4G), according to industry data developingtelecoms.com. This means most people access online services through smartphones or cellular modems (dongles), using data plans from mobile operators. The convenience of wireless access and the lack of fixed infrastructure make mobile the default internet medium.

In contrast, fixed broadband (such as DSL, cable, or fiber-to-the-home) is extremely limited. Only around 1% of Mali’s population has a fixed internet subscription of any kind worlddata.info. These are mostly concentrated in Bamako and possibly a few major cities, serving offices, institutions, and a small number of homes. The main fixed broadband options include ADSL over the old telephone network (offered by Sotelma) and some fiber or dedicated lines for corporate customers (often provided by Orange Mali or specialized ISPs like Afribone). However, the reach of these services is minimal – Mali’s fixed telephone line density has always been low, and the fiber networks are still nascent.

Fiber-optic connectivity in Mali exists primarily at the backbone level. The government and operators have been laying fiber cables to connect cities and to link Mali with submarine cable landing points in neighboring countries. Within Bamako, there are efforts to expand metropolitan fiber rings, and Orange Mali has been known to offer fiber-to-the-premises for large enterprises or telecom traffic. But for the average consumer, fiber access at home is practically nonexistent as of 2025. The focus is instead on using fiber to support mobile towers and backhaul, rather than last-mile to households.

Satellite internet (VSAT) has been another avenue, historically used by businesses, NGOs, or government offices in remote areas where even mobile service was absent. Companies like Viasat, Eutelsat (Konnect), and GlobalTT operate in Mali’s market via local partners, providing satellite broadband to those who can afford the high costs. These traditional VSAT services often require expensive equipment and subscriptions, so they have a limited user base (mostly organizations or affluent users in off-grid localities). With new low-earth-orbit satellite options emerging (discussed in a later section), the role of satellite is evolving from a niche backstop to a more mainstream consumer solution.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning public internet access points as a type of access. In urban centers, cyber cafés and Wi-Fi hotspots (often linked to DSL or fiber) have provided shared internet access for those who don’t have personal connectivity. The government’s plan to establish “universal access centers” in rural areas is effectively an extension of this concept – creating community hubs where people can get online extensia.tech. These centers would leverage whatever backhaul is available (mobile or satellite) to offer internet in underserved villages. While not a different technology per se, they represent a different modality of access: shared, public connectivity as opposed to private individual access.

In summary, Mali’s internet access types can be boiled down to: mobile broadband for the masses, a tiny footprint of fixed broadband in cities, satellite/VSAT for remote enterprise needs (with consumer satellite on the horizon), and shared access points as a complementary model. The dominance of mobile will likely continue, but new technologies (fiber and satellite) are gradually being introduced to broaden the options available.

Major Providers and Market Players

The telecom market in Mali is served by a small number of key operators, with mobile services being the primary offering. Orange Mali and Sotelma/Malitel have long been the two dominant players controlling the bulk of the market budde.com.au.

Orange Mali: Owned by the French Orange Group, this operator entered Mali in 2003 (originally under the name Ikatel) and quickly rose to prominence budde.com.au. Today, Orange Mali is the leading mobile network operator (MNO) in terms of subscribers and coverage. It offers 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE services, as well as fixed-line and internet services in limited areas. Orange is known for its relatively extensive network and was the first in Mali to test 5G technology (conducting pilot tests in 2021–2022) developingtelecoms.com. Orange’s dominance is reflected in its market share – it carries a large majority of mobile data traffic and is often the first to roll out new services.
Sotelma – Malitel (Moov Africa Malitel): Sotelma is the former state-owned telecom incumbent. It operated the national fixed-line network and the “Malitel” mobile service. In 2009, a 51% stake in Sotelma was privatized to Maroc Telecom (which is part of Etisalat Group), bringing in foreign investment budde.com.au. The mobile brand Malitel has since been rebranded as Moov Africa Malitel, aligning with Etisalat/Maroc Telecom’s “Moov” brand across its African operations. Sotelma/Malitel is the second-largest operator, offering similar services (2G/3G/4G mobile, some fixed broadband in Bamako). Notably, in a recent move, the Malian state increased its stake in Sotelma back up to 56%, making the government the majority owner again as part of a license renewal deal through 2039 budde.com.au. This suggests a strategic interest by Mali’s government in retaining influence over this critical operator. Malitel’s network is somewhat smaller than Orange’s, but it still covers major population centers and rural towns.
Telecel Mali: This is the brand under which Alpha Telecom operates. Alpha Telecom obtained Mali’s third mobile license and (after years of delay) launched services in late 2017 budde.com.au. Operating as Telecel, this is a smaller operator trying to carve out market share against the Orange and Malitel duopoly. Telecel offers 2G and 3G services, and has been rolling out 4G more gradually. Its coverage is currently limited compared to the big two, often focusing on the capital and certain regions. Telecel’s entry was meant to increase competition, and while it did introduce things like aggressive pricing in some cases, it remains a relatively minor player due to coverage limitations. Telecel Mali is backed by private investors (including Planor/Aplanet from Burkina Faso and reportedly Monaco Telecom involvement) budde.com.au, giving it regional connections. Quality of service has been an issue at times, but it’s steadily improving its network.
Mobilis (Algérie Télécom): A fourth mobile license was awarded at the end of 2019 to Mobilis, which is the mobile division of Algeria’s national telecom operator budde.com.au. Mobilis has plans to enter the Malian market, which could significantly shake up the competitive dynamics. However, as of 2025, Mobilis had not yet fully launched commercial operations in Mali. The political instability and economic conditions likely contributed to delays. If Mobilis goes live, it would leverage Algerian investment and potentially offer new choices for consumers. Given Mobilis’s background, one might expect a focus on northern Mali (bordering Algeria) as well as major cities. The entry of Mobilis is anticipated to bring fresh capital and possibly better prices, assuming it rolls out in the near future.

Aside from these mobile network operators, Mali also has a few Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that provide enterprise connectivity, usually piggybacking on the infrastructure of the big operators or via satellite. Names like Afribone, Datatech, CEFIB are local ISPs mentioned in market reports budde.com.au. They often serve businesses or government agencies with dedicated internet links, WiMAX, or fiber in Bamako. Their scale is small compared to the mobile operators.

It’s also worth mentioning that Sonatel (Orange’s affiliate in neighboring Senegal) plays a role in Mali’s telecom scene. Orange Mali is partly integrated with Sonatel for international connectivity and management expertise – for example, Sonatel was contracted to manage a regional fiber network (SOGEM’s fiber for the OMVS power grid) across Mali, Guinea, and other countries developingtelecoms.com. This kind of regional cooperation underscores that Mali’s telecom market, while served by local entities, is influenced by larger West African telecom groups.

In summary, the major providers in Mali boil down to Orange (market leader), Malitel (Moov) (strong second), a smaller Telecel, and an expected Mobilis entrant. The mobile sector is the centerpiece, with these companies also offering ancillary internet services. Competition is present but not extremely robust – Orange’s lead is significant – hence the regulatory push to introduce new players and keep prices in check. The government, via Sotelma and policy measures, remains an important stakeholder in how these providers operate and expand coverage.

Infrastructure and Technological Challenges

Building and maintaining internet infrastructure in Mali is a challenging endeavor due to a combination of geographic, economic, and security issues. One major hurdle is Mali’s geography and topology: it’s a vast country (the eighth largest in Africa) with large stretches of sparsely populated desert in the north developingtelecoms.com. Many settlements are remote and hard to reach. Laying fiber-optic cables or even reaching them with mobile towers requires significant investment. The low population density in those areas means there’s less commercial incentive for operators to build out infrastructure, as the return on investment is uncertain.

Being landlocked adds another layer of complexity. Mali has no direct access to undersea internet cables, so it must connect through neighboring countries (such as Senegal, Ivory Coast, or Guinea) to reach international fiber networks. This dependency has historically kept internet bandwidth prices high and introduced vulnerability. For example, if a submarine cable outage occurs on the West African coast, Mali can experience a severe internet slowdown or blackout because alternate routes are limited developingtelecoms.com. To address this, Mali has worked on diversifying connectivity: a recent agreement to interconnect Mali’s fiber backbone with Guinea’s network is aimed at creating a more resilient, redundant link to the undersea cable landing in Guinea developingtelecoms.com. Similarly, connections through Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritania are in development to reduce reliance on any single route. Nonetheless, until these links are robust, Mali’s international bandwidth will be relatively costly and at risk from external cuts or outages.

Underinvestment in fixed-line infrastructure is a lingering issue. For decades, the focus (both for government and private investors) was on expanding mobile networks, while the fixed telephony network stagnated. As a result, much of Mali’s copper telephone network is outdated or confined to major cities. Without a strong fixed-line base, DSL internet coverage is minimal. Efforts to build a national fiber backbone (like the “Mali Numérique” project) have faced delays and budget constraints developingtelecoms.com. There have been reports of Chinese firms like Huawei being involved in laying fiber, but political instability (coups in 2012 and 2020) disrupted continuity of such projects developingtelecoms.com. Even where fiber is laid, maintenance can be an issue – vandalism and accidental cuts happen, and security issues make it hard to repair lines in conflict zones.

The ongoing security challenges in parts of Mali cannot be overstated as a technological roadblock. Large areas in the north and center have been troubled by insurgency and militant groups for years, making it dangerous for engineers to build or service network infrastructure developingtelecoms.com. Some cell towers have been destroyed or equipment looted in conflict areas. In such places, companies either rely on satellite links or simply have no presence. This contributes significantly to the rural connectivity gap. The government’s struggle to maintain stability thus directly affects the telecom sector’s ability to expand into those areas.

Another challenge is power and reliability. Internet infrastructure needs electricity – for cell towers, data centers, and to charge users’ devices. Mali’s electrical grid is limited outside of cities, and many telecom sites have to run on diesel generators, adding to operating costs and complexity. Frequent power outages even in cities can disrupt internet service quality. Renewable energy solutions (like solar-powered cell sites) are being explored to mitigate this, especially for off-grid locations.

Finally, economic constraints and skills gap play a role. Rolling out modern technology like 4G/5G or fiber is capital-intensive. With Mali’s GDP per capita being relatively low, it’s hard for either the government or consumers to spend a lot on telecom services. Operators must balance investing in upgrades with keeping services affordable. There’s also a need for trained technicians and engineers – the talent pool in advanced ICT is limited, so Mali often relies on international expertise (e.g., Orange bringing in specialists from France/Senegal, or Huawei managing networks). This can slow down local capacity-building.

In summary, Mali’s internet infrastructure faces multiple challenges: daunting geography, dependence on neighbors for connectivity, insufficient legacy infrastructure, security threats, and economic hurdles. These factors collectively explain why large parts of the country remain offline or on 2G networks, and why even in connected areas the service can be expensive and less reliable. Overcoming these challenges requires concerted efforts in investment, regional cooperation, and innovative approaches (such as using satellites or solar power) to reach the underserved communities.

Government Policies and Initiatives

The Malian government recognizes that improving internet access is crucial for economic development and social inclusion, and it has launched several policies and initiatives to accelerate the telecom sector’s growth. One of the cornerstone efforts has been the “Mali Numérique 2020” strategy, a national digital economy plan adopted in 2016. This strategy outlined a vision to position Mali as a regional technology hub by 2020, focusing on expanding broadband infrastructure, promoting e-government services, and encouraging ICT skills. While the ambitious 2020 goals were not fully met (due to political upheavals and resource constraints), the plan did spur some important projects – notably the development of a national fiber optic backbone network developingtelecoms.com. The government secured loans (including from China’s Exim Bank) to finance a fiber rollout connecting all regional capitals. Though implementation lagged, by mid-2020s the “Mali Numérique” fiber network has been partially deployed, improving connectivity between major cities and neighboring countries developingtelecoms.com.

A key instrument of government policy in telecom is the Universal Access Fund, managed by the agency AGEFAU (Agence de Gestion du Fonds d’Accès Universel). This fund collects contributions from telecom operators (usually a small percentage of their revenues) and directs them to projects that extend communications to underserved areas. For 2025, AGEFAU dramatically scaled up its program with a budget of 43.35 billion CFA francs (around $72 million) dedicated to improving people’s access to telecommunications extensia.tech. According to officials, this includes projects like extending mobile network coverage to rural localities, setting up universal access centers (telecenters with internet access and digital services for community use), and even supporting telemedicine initiatives to connect remote clinics with health specialists extensia.tech. These efforts directly target the digital divide, aiming to bring more of the rural population online.

However, executing such projects has faced obstacles. AGEFAU reportedly only achieved about 51% of its targets in 2024 extensia.tech, due to issues like delayed budget approvals and unpaid contributions from some telecom operators extensia.tech. Additionally, the broader challenges of security and public health (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic) impacted project rollout extensia.tech. The government has responded by tightening oversight of AGEFAU – an Auditor General’s report found some irregularities, leading to new management and governance measures to ensure funds are used effectively extensia.tech. This shows the government’s commitment to not just allocate funds, but also to reform institutions to deliver results.

Another policy area is market liberalization and regulation. Mali’s government and its regulatory authority (AMRTP – Autorité Malienne de Régulation des Télécommunications) have periodically taken steps to increase competition and improve services. The decision to license a third and fourth mobile operator was one such step, intended to break the long-standing duopoly budde.com.au. Additionally, Mali has been part of regional initiatives like the G5 Sahel free roaming agreement, which eliminates roaming charges between Mali and neighboring Sahel countries developingtelecoms.com. This kind of policy can indirectly benefit internet users by making mobile data use across borders more seamless, supporting cross-border trade and movement.

On the legislative front, the government has worked on laws related to ICT, such as cybersecurity, electronic transactions, and data protection, to create a conducive environment for digital services. While not directly expanding access, these policies are crucial for trust and adoption of internet-based services (e.g., e-commerce, mobile money). Mali established a Ministry of Digital Economy, which along with the Ministry of Communication, drives these policy initiatives.

Government-led infrastructure investments also deserve mention. Apart from the national fiber project, the government has in some cases partnered with private companies to push infrastructure. For example, the electric utility EDM and the transport sector have been involved in laying fiber along power lines or railways, leveraging infrastructure-sharing opportunities. Mali also joined the World Bank’s regional connectivity programs. In fact, the World Bank approved a ~$100 million “Mali Digital Transformation Project” in recent years, aimed at expanding broadband access, digital platforms, and skills (often these funds support policy reforms and investments like rural connectivity, though specifics for Mali are unfolding).

One visible outcome of policy is the recent change in Sotelma’s ownership: As noted, the government increased its stake in the incumbent operator to 56%, making it the majority shareholder again budde.com.au. This move, completed in exchange for renewing Sotelma’s license to 2039, suggests the state wants a stronger grip on critical telecom infrastructure. It could allow the government to push Sotelma towards social objectives, like serving rural areas or keeping prices in check, even if profit margins are lower.

In summary, Mali’s government policies center on expanding infrastructure (fiber, rural towers), enforcing universal service obligations via AGEFAU, liberalizing the telecom market to invite competition, and strategic investments/partnerships (both increasing state involvement in telecom and working with international donors). The implementation has been imperfect, slowed by internal and external challenges, but there is a clear understanding at the policy level that improved internet access is vital for Mali’s future. Ongoing initiatives in 2025 reflect a renewed push to realize these goals, with significant funding and reforms in play.

International Partnerships and Development Projects

Because of its developmental challenges, Mali has benefited from numerous international partnerships aimed at bolstering its internet infrastructure and bridging the connectivity gap. These collaborations involve foreign companies, neighboring countries, international organizations, and development agencies. They play a crucial role in areas where Mali’s government or local firms alone might lack resources or expertise.

One of the most significant partnerships is with Orange (France), which isn’t just an operator in Mali but also a regional backbone provider. Orange Group launched the “Djoliba” network, a sprawling terrestrial fiber optic backbone that links up West African capitals, including connecting Bamako to Dakar, Abidjan, and other cities budde.com.au. This network, operational since around 2020, has given Mali an additional high-capacity route to international submarine cables. By having Bamako on this loop, Mali’s traffic can go through Senegal or Ivory Coast to undersea cables and onward to Europe. Djoliba is a private sector project, but it complements public initiatives by increasing bandwidth and redundancy. It effectively “internationalizes” Mali’s internet, making high-speed connectivity more readily available for local ISPs and mobile operators which purchase capacity.

In terms of regional cooperation, Mali has actively engaged with its neighbors. A notable recent development is the fiber-optic interconnection between Mali and Guinea. In mid-2024, the two countries signed an agreement to directly link their national fiber networks developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com. This move was partly motivated by recent undersea cable cuts that disrupted internet in West Africa – by interconnecting, Mali and Guinea aim to create a redundant path so that if one country’s primary link goes down, the other can provide an alternate route developingtelecoms.com. Additionally, this cross-border link is expected to reduce costs for international bandwidth by routing traffic more efficiently developingtelecoms.com. Similar discussions are happening with other neighbors (Senegal, Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire), and there’s even a four-country pact under ECOWAS to jointly manage regional fiber links capacitymedia.com. All of these efforts recognize that connectivity in a landlocked country is a shared regional concern.

Development agencies and financial institutions also contribute. The World Bank, for example, has been involved in funding digital development in Mali. Beyond the aforementioned Mali Digital Transformation Project (which provides funding and technical support for broadband expansion and digital government), Mali was earlier part of the WARCIP (West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Program) that helped landlocked countries get access to submarine cables via terrestrial links. Under WARCIP, fiber links from Mali to coastal countries were financed in part by World Bank soft loans. Likewise, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Islamic Development Bank have at times funded ICT components, such as extending fiber to rural areas or supporting ICT centers.

A different kind of partnership is illustrated by the cooperation between Orange Mali and Intelsat. In 2022–2023, Orange partnered with satellite operator Intelsat to roll out a satellite-powered cellular network solution intelsat.com intelsat.com. Essentially, Intelsat provided satellite backhaul connectivity and expertise to connect remote cell towers that were previously off-grid. By using Intelsat’s geostationary satellites (like Intelsat-23 and 10-02), they were able to bring 3G/4G coverage to over 60 remote sites across Mali, serving an estimated 360,000 people who had no prior internet access satelliteworldtoday.com. This project not only reconnected communities (including some that had been cut off due to conflict or lack of infrastructure) but also demonstrated a model of leveraging satellite technology to bypass terrestrial limitations. Intelsat’s case study notes that this was West Africa’s first satellite-powered 4G network deployment intelsat.com, highlighting Mali as a pioneer in that regard. The success of this partnership likely paves the way for further satellite integration by telecom operators in Mali and elsewhere.

There are also public-private partnerships internally that often involve foreign contractors. For example, China’s Huawei has been a key vendor in Mali, contracted to build parts of the national fiber backbone and to upgrade mobile networks (Huawei was reportedly given an extension to complete the national fiber network under Mali Numérique) businesswire.com. Huawei’s involvement is essentially a partnership via financing from Chinese banks – they supply equipment and services, often funded by Chinese loans to Mali’s government. Similarly, other telecom equipment companies (like Nokia or Ericsson) might be involved through Orange or Sotelma’s network upgrade contracts.

On the satellite internet front (distinct from the Intelsat-Orange deal), Mali has drawn interest from SpaceX’s Starlink and UK-based OneWeb. While Starlink’s entry is dealt with in the next section, it’s worth noting as an international partnership that Mali had to coordinate with SpaceX and possibly U.S. regulators to authorize the service. OneWeb, which provides low-earth-orbit connectivity through partnerships, has likely engaged Mali’s telecom ministry as well – OneWeb’s services in Africa are often delivered via telco partners or government agreements (though specifics for Mali are not public, GlobalTT mentioned offering OneWeb in Mali globaltt.com, indicating at least enterprise availability).

Finally, Mali participates in regional bodies like the West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) and Smart Africa Alliance, which facilitate knowledge exchange and joint initiatives. Through Smart Africa’s broadband initiatives, Mali can tap into continent-wide projects, such as bulk capacity purchases or satellite projects (Smart Africa has a focus on lowering internet costs and may play a role in bringing African countries together to negotiate with providers like Starlink or undersea cable consortia).

In summary, international partnerships in Mali’s internet sector range from infrastructure projects (fiber links, regional backbones), to technical collaborations (satellite backhaul for mobile), to development funding and policy alignment. These partnerships are crucial for Mali because they bring in investment, technology, and resilience that the country might struggle to achieve on its own. As Mali continues to work towards universal internet access, such global and regional collaborations will remain a cornerstone of its strategy.

Satellite Internet Services: New Options for Connectivity

Given Mali’s challenges with terrestrial infrastructure, satellite internet has emerged as a promising solution to connect remote and underserved areas. There are two main categories of satellite internet services relevant to Mali: the traditional geostationary (GEO) satellite services (which have existed for years via VSAT providers), and the newer generation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations like Starlink and OneWeb.

Historically, GEO satellite internet in Mali was provided by companies such as GlobalTT, HughesNet, Viasat, and Eutelsat’s Konnect. These services use satellites parked in high orbits (36,000 km up), requiring a dish antenna and specialized modem. They could cover all of Mali’s territory, making them invaluable for NGOs, banks, or government outposts in areas with no fiber or mobile coverage. However, they came with drawbacks – high latency (noticeable delay), relatively slow speeds (a few Mbps), and very high costs (hundreds of dollars per month for limited data). Because of this, GEO satellite internet remained a niche solution for those who absolutely needed it and could pay. For example, a VSAT plan in Mali might cost $200+ per month for a 5-10 Mbps connection, far out of reach for the average consumer.

The game changer has been Starlink, the LEO satellite constellation operated by SpaceX. Starlink’s satellites orbit much closer to Earth (~550 km), enabling low-latency, high-speed internet beamed directly to user terminals. In Africa, Starlink began rolling out in 2023 and 2024, and it quickly gained attention for offering service in places poorly served by other ISPs. In many African countries, Starlink’s basic plan costs roughly $30 per month (and sometimes even less) for unlimited data, with downlink speeds often above 50–150 Mbps restofworld.org. The upfront hardware cost (dish and router) is around $200–$300, which, while significant, is a one-time fee. These price points made Starlink cheaper than many terrestrial broadband options; in fact, analyses found that in at least 5 African countries, Starlink’s monthly subscription was lower than that of the leading fixed-line ISP restofworld.org restofworld.org.

For Mali, Starlink holds obvious appeal – it could bring broadband to any village or home with a clear view of the sky, bypassing the need for fiber or cell towers. However, the introduction of Starlink in Mali has been complicated by regulatory and security concerns. In March 2024, Mali’s military government banned the import and use of Starlink kits dabafinance.com. The stated reason was national security: authorities were worried that insurgent groups in the north and east (who operate in remote areas beyond the reach of regular networks) could exploit Starlink for their communications, making them harder to monitor or neutralize dabafinance.com africa.businessinsider.com. This ban abruptly halted what was starting to be an organic adoption of Starlink via its “Roam” service (some Malians had been obtaining Starlink equipment from abroad and using it on a roaming basis, which provides connectivity even in countries where Starlink isn’t officially launched).

After several months and likely some negotiations, Mali lifted the Starlink ban in October 2024, albeit temporarily for 6 months dabafinance.com. This reprieve was intended to allow citizens (especially businesses and aid organizations) to reconnect using Starlink, while the government works out a new regulatory framework. Essentially, Mali is trying to balance the need for connectivity in remote areas with national security safeguards. The lifting of the ban indicates that completely prohibiting satellite internet was untenable – it cut off legitimate users and drew criticism – so a more nuanced approach is being crafted. During this interim period, Mali would likely license Starlink officially, perhaps requiring user registration or usage monitoring in sensitive regions.

Looking ahead, SpaceX has signaled that Mali is on its rollout roadmap. A recent report listed Mali among countries “expected to launch in 2025” for official Starlink service extensia.tech. This suggests that by 2025, Mali could be one of the ~46 African countries where Starlink is live. Once fully authorized, we can expect Starlink to offer its standard packages: a Residential plan (unlimited data, around $30/month in Africa) and possibly a higher-priced Priority or Roam plan for enterprise/mobile use. The accessibility of Starlink will depend on importation of the hardware – presumably local ISPs or tech retailers might partner as distributors, or individuals can order directly if allowed.

Starlink isn’t the only player in town, though. OneWeb, a LEO constellation partly owned by the UK government and Bharti Airtel, is another entrant. OneWeb has fewer satellites operational than Starlink but has focused on partnering with telecom operators to provide backhaul or community Wi-Fi. For instance, a company like GlobalTT advertises OneWeb connectivity in Mali globaltt.com. This might mean that businesses or cell towers in Mali could use OneWeb terminals to get connectivity. OneWeb’s user equipment is often larger and more expensive than Starlink’s, targeting enterprise use cases. Additionally, companies like Intelsat and SES are launching medium-Earth orbit (MEO) constellations (like SES’s O3b) and even integrating with LEOs to offer multi-orbit solutions; these could be relevant for providing 4G/5G backhaul in rural Mali, as Intelsat has done with Orange.

In terms of pricing and plans: If Starlink comes in officially, we have a reference from other African markets that suggests a ~$30 monthly fee and hardware around $250 restofworld.org. It’s possible Mali might impose some tax or license fee that affects the price, but it will likely remain in that ballpark to be attractive. For context, $30/month is about 18,000 CFA, which is still expensive for average Malians (though perhaps a household could share the connection). Yet, for many rural communities, that price split among users or paid by an institution (school, clinic) could be transformational given the performance offered.

Coverage-wise, LEO satellites cover all of Mali’s territory from day one – as long as the regulatory permission is there, a user in the Sahara could connect as easily as one in Bamako. This ubiquity is crucial for a country like Mali. We might see development programs use Starlink to connect remote schools or health centers. There’s also interest in leveraging satellites for mobile backhaul – for example, instead of Intelsat’s GEO solution, a tower could use Starlink for backhaul, potentially with lower latency and higher capacity.

In conclusion, satellite internet is set to play a growing role in Mali’s internet ecosystem. After years of being a pricey last-resort option, new satellite services are poised to become mainstream alternatives. The government’s cautious embrace of Starlink underscores its potential impact. If properly regulated and utilized, satellite internet could significantly accelerate Mali’s progress toward nationwide connectivity – reaching the far corners that terrestrial networks still struggle to cover. The next few years will be telling, as Mali finds the balance between harnessing these technologies for development and managing the risks associated with them.

Urban vs. Rural Access and the Digital Divide

Mali faces a pronounced digital divide between urban and rural areas, one of the key challenges in achieving equitable internet access. In the capital city Bamako and a few other major cities (such as Sikasso, Segou, Mopti, and Gao), internet infrastructure and usage are far ahead of the countryside. Urban areas enjoy better coverage, higher speeds, and more options for access, whereas rural communities often have minimal or no connectivity.

Urban Mali: Cities benefit from the concentration of both public and private investments in telecom. Bamako, being the economic hub, has virtually full coverage of 3G and 4G from the major operators. It’s not uncommon for Bamako residents to have access to mobile data speeds of several Mbps, and there are pockets of public Wi-Fi or fiber connectivity (in universities, government offices, and large companies). Internet cafés are found in cities, providing access to those who can’t afford a personal connection. The relatively higher literacy rates and income levels in cities also contribute to higher internet adoption – people are more likely to own smartphones and be aware of digital services. As a result, a large share of Mali’s ~35% internet penetration is concentrated in urban locales. For instance, it’s estimated that in Bamako a majority of the population uses the internet in some form, whereas in many villages that figure might be in single digits.

Rural Mali: In stark contrast, vast rural regions remain mostly offline. Many villages in Mali’s interior have cellular coverage only for basic 2G voice/SMS, if at all. Even where 3G might technically reach a rural district center, the quality can be poor and capacity limited (meaning slow speeds and unstable connections). Approximately 30% of the population had no 3G/4G signal as of 2023 extensia.tech, and most of these were rural residents. In such places, internet access might involve a trip to the nearest town that has a cyber café or a mobile signal. The digital divide is also reflected in device ownership – smartphones and computers are far less common in rural households, partly due to cost and partly due to lack of utility when there’s no network. Language and literacy barriers further widen the gap: much online content is in French or English, whereas many rural Malians primarily speak local languages and may have limited formal education.

Another dimension of the urban-rural divide is infrastructure quality and uptime. Urban centers get the first pick of improvements – e.g., when Orange launched 4G, it started in Bamako and then slowly trickled to secondary cities. Rural cell sites, if they exist, might be older and prone to outages (some run on generators that can fail or run out of fuel). Meanwhile, urban infrastructure is a bit more resilient, with some redundancy and better maintenance. Electricity is also more available in cities, enabling people to charge phones and keep devices running, whereas rural areas with no grid power have to rely on solar chargers or diesel generators.

Socioeconomic impacts: This divide means that people in rural Mali are missing out on the digital revolution – from access to information, online education, e-commerce and digital banking, to modern communication tools. For example, farmers in connected areas might use apps to check market prices or mobile money to receive payments, while those offline remain dependent on traditional, less efficient means. The government and NGOs have expressed concern that without deliberate action, the digital divide could exacerbate existing inequalities – urban youth becoming more skilled and informed, while rural youth lag behind.

To address this, many of the initiatives discussed earlier (universal access centers, satellite connectivity, rural towers expansion) are squarely aimed at rural inclusion. A concrete example is telemedicine in rural healthcare: The government’s 2025 plan includes connecting remote clinics to better serve maternal health needs extensia.tech. Such projects use internet links to bridge rural doctors with specialists in cities, directly tackling the urban-rural service gap. Another example is educational programs – setting up internet in rural schools so students can access digital resources, narrowing the learning gap with their urban peers.

It’s also worth noting that the rural digital divide overlaps with a gender divide in Mali. Women in rural areas, who often have lower literacy and income, are among the least likely to use the internet. While this report focuses on geography, policymakers are aware that rural connectivity programs must also be inclusive of women and other marginalized groups to be truly effective.

In summary, urban Mali is relatively well connected and reaping the benefits of the internet age, while rural Mali remains largely disconnected. This urban-rural digital divide is one of the central challenges for Mali’s internet development. Efforts to close this gap are underway, leveraging policy, technology (like satellites and solar-powered mobile sites), and community-based solutions. If successful, bringing rural communities online could unleash enormous socio-economic gains and ensure that the digital future is shared by all Malians, not just those in the cities.

Projections for the Future of Internet in Mali

Looking ahead, the trajectory for internet access in Mali is one of cautious optimism. While current penetration levels are modest, all indicators suggest they will continue to rise in the coming years – the question is how quickly, and how evenly that growth will be distributed. Here are some key projections and expectations for Mali’s internet future:

Steady Increase in Users: Based on recent trends, Mali could see internet penetration climb from ~35% in 2025 to over 50% by the early 2030s. This assumes an average annual growth in users as mobile networks expand and become more affordable. If certain barriers (like cost and coverage) are addressed more rapidly, the growth could be faster. In numbers, Mali might add several million new internet users in the next decade, possibly reaching 12–15 million users by 2030 (up from ~8.7 million in 2025).
4G Everywhere, 5G on the Horizon: By the end of this decade, we can expect 4G LTE coverage to blanket most of Mali’s populated areas. The government and operators have clear targets to extend 3G/4G to currently uncovered zones. The statistic of “47% without 4G coverage” extensia.tech should shrink significantly as operators like Orange and Malitel build new towers and upgrade existing 3G sites to 4G. 5G is likely to remain limited to urban hotspots in the near-term; however, Orange’s successful 5G pilot in Bamako 360mozambique.com indicates Mali’s readiness to embrace newer technology when feasible. A plausible scenario is that by 2025–2026, 5G service might launch in Bamako on a commercial basis (perhaps in central business and upscale areas, or for specific enterprise use cases). Widespread 5G across Mali is a longer-term prospect (post-2030), and realistically, the focus will be on perfecting 4G coverage first.
Impact of the Fourth Operator: If Mobilis (Algérie Télécom) rolls out its network by 2025–2026, it could be a catalyst for change. A new entrant often triggers price wars or innovation. Mobilis might, for example, introduce competitive data plans or reach into under-served regions (especially northern Mali given Algeria’s proximity). This could force Orange and Malitel to improve their offerings to retain customers. Increased competition could accelerate subscriber growth (as services become more affordable) and improve quality. On the flip side, if Mali’s market conditions remain tough and Mobilis hesitates, the status quo might persist longer.
Greater Fiber Connectivity: By 2030, Mali should have a much more robust fiber-optic network in place. The national backbone (Mali Numérique) is likely to be completed or at least linking all regional capitals on multiple routes. Internationally, Mali will have multiple redundant fiber links: via Senegal (including the Orange Djoliba network), via Guinea (through the new interconnect developingtelecoms.com), possibly via Ivory Coast and Mauritania as well. This will reduce the cost of bandwidth and increase available capacity by orders of magnitude. Cheaper wholesale bandwidth can translate to more affordable internet for users if the market passes on the savings. Additionally, improved backhaul means even remote cell towers (connected via microwave or fiber spurs) can offer better data speeds.
Role of Satellite: The mid-2020s will likely be remembered as the period satellite internet went mainstream in Mali. Assuming Starlink is fully legalized and rolled out in 2025, we might see tens of thousands of Starlink users within a couple of years. These could range from individual households in remote towns, to small ISPs re-selling bandwidth via Wi-Fi, to government agencies connecting offices in conflict areas. Starlink’s presence will push other technologies to adapt – for instance, mobile operators might leverage Starlink for quick deployment of coverage in remote zones, or use it as a redundancy for fiber cuts. Meanwhile, OneWeb and others might partner with Mali’s government to connect schools or provide backhaul in rural Mali as well. By 2030, it wouldn’t be surprising if a significant fraction of Mali’s internet traffic (especially in rural areas) is carried over LEO satellites. This could dramatically lift the rural penetration rate.
E-Government and Services Expansion: As connectivity improves, Mali is poised to digitalize more public services. We may see broader use of e-learning platforms, digital ID systems, mobile banking and e-commerce penetration into rural areas, etc. The government’s push for telemedicine, e-agriculture advisories, and e-governance will become more practical to implement once a critical mass of the population is online. This virtuous cycle – more internet leads to more useful services, which in turn drives more people to get online – could accelerate uptake.
Challenges That May Persist: Despite these positive projections, some challenges could temper the progress. Political instability is a wild card – any future unrest or policy shifts could disrupt telecom investment. The security situation in the north, if unresolved, will continue to make it difficult to extend infrastructure there (though satellites can mitigate that to an extent). Affordability will remain a concern; if economic conditions don’t improve, the cost of devices and data could still exclude the poorest segments. Mali will need to pair connectivity efforts with literacy and digital skills programs to ensure new users can effectively utilize the internet.
Quantitative Targets: It’s worth noting if Mali has any official targets for internet penetration. While exact figures are not confirmed in sources, one could envision the government aiming for something like 60-70% population coverage by internet (or, say, 90% 3G/4G network coverage) by 2030. These would align with broader UN and Africa Union goals of universal and affordable internet access. In terms of mobile broadband subscriptions, forecasts by industry analysts (like BuddeComm) often show Mali doubling its mobile data subscribers over the next 5-7 years developingtelecoms.com budde.com.au.

In conclusion, the future of internet in Mali is set on an upward path. All major stakeholders – the government, private operators, international partners – are actively involved in expanding digital access. If Mali can maintain stability and effectively harness new technologies (like LEO satellites and 5G) while continuing to invest in fundamental infrastructure (towers, fiber, power), it stands to make a leap in connectivity. This will mean not just more people online, but potentially a transformation in how Malians learn, do business, and interact with the world. In a decade’s time, Mali could move from lagging behind in ICT to being a case study of how a landlocked, low-income country bridged the digital divide with smart investments and innovations budde.com.au developingtelecoms.com. The next few years will be critical in laying this foundation for Mali’s digital future.

Tags: digitalisering, Internet, Mali