Connectivity News 15 July 2025

Myanmar’s Internet Dilemma: From Blackouts to Starlink Dreams

In 2021, more than 400 cell towers were destroyed amid fighting, crippling parts of Myanmar’s mobile network. MPT’s FTTH network expanded to 154 of 330 townships by early 2024, up from 27 townships in 2019. As of early 2024, Myanmar had about 64.3 million mobile connections (roughly 117% SIM penetration), with 4G coverage around 90% of the population and 5G footprint below 1%. By late 2024, well over 3,000 Starlink dishes were reportedly active in Myanmar, with more than 80 units confiscated in 2022. In December 2021 the MoTC ordered mobile operators to double data prices, and by 2023 the

5 August 2025

Satellite-to-Cell Showdown: Apple vs Starlink vs AST in the Race to Connect Your Phone Anywhere

Apple launched Emergency SOS via satellite in late 2022 with the iPhone 14, becoming the first mainstream phone to offer satellite messaging. Apple’s satellite system uses Globalstar’s LEO satellites (about 1,400 km altitude) with custom hardware and extremely low bandwidth, delivering a few bytes per second and requiring the user to point and hold the phone for about 15–30 seconds per transmission. In late 2023 Apple added roadside assistance texting via satellite with AAA in the U.S., and iPhone purchases include two years of satellite service for free. Apple announced in 2024 that iOS 18 will enable standard iMessage texting

5 August 2025

Apple vs Starlink · Connectivity · Mobile Technology · Satellite Communication · Smartphones

Internet Access in the Micronesian Region: Status, Challenges, and Outlook (2025)

The Micronesian region comprises the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Palau, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Kiribati. In 2010 the HANTRU-1 fiber cable reached Majuro and Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, branching from Pohnpei to FSM, marking the region’s first international fiber backbone. Palau connected to the SEA-US cable in 2017 and is slated to receive a second Echo cable spur by 2025 to boost redundancy. The East Micronesia Cable (EMC) project began in 2022 and is on track for completion by late 2025, linking Nauru, Tarawa, and Kosrae via FSM’s Pohnpei hub. SpaceX Starlink became available in 2022–23, with

2 August 2025

Connectivity · Internet · Micronesia · Regional Issues · Technology

Inside Tajikistan’s Internet: Connectivity Challenges, Costs, and the Satellite Solution

Since 2016, Tajikistan requires all ISPs to route international traffic through the state-controlled Single Communications Gateway via EKTs, enabling surveillance and censorship. Fixed-line broadband penetration is effectively zero, with about 6,000 fixed broadband subscriptions nationwide (roughly 0.07% of the population) as of 2025. Mobile internet dominates, with 10.54 million active mobile connections by early 2024 (about 102.9% of the population) and 4G coverage reaching roughly 72% of people by end-2022. Tajiktelecom monopoly on international bandwidth; in 2018 the government deprived ISPs of the right to buy international bandwidth from abroad, forcing purchases from Tajiktelecom at inflated prices, with bandwidth sold

30 July 2025

Connectivity · Internet · Satellite · Tajikistan · Technology

Connecting São Tomé and Príncipe: Internet Access in 2025 – Infrastructure, Challenges, and Opportunities

As of January 2025, internet penetration stands at 61.5% of the population (about 146,000 online) with around 170,000 active mobile connections. The Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable landed in São Tomé in 2012–2013, with its final southern segment completed in 2021, increasing international bandwidth from about 50 Mbps to over 4,500 Mbps. CST accounts for about 95% of internet subscriptions, and Unitel STP entered the market in 2014 after a unified license granted in 2013 for $1.62 million. Unitel STP launched the first 4G LTE service in May 2023, and by 2025 4G is available in the capital

29 July 2025

Africa · Connectivity · Development · Infrastructure · Internet · NYSE:ORAN

State of Internet Access in Lebanon: From Fiber Optics to Starlink Skies

Lebanon was the first Arab country to introduce the internet in the 1990s, and began offering DSL broadband in 2006. Ogero launched a 40-month national fiber rollout in mid-2018, with about 35% completion by the end of 2019 and a target to reach most households by 2022, slowed by the crisis. By 2025, Lebanon’s fixed broadband speed ranked 142nd worldwide, with median speeds rising to about 12.8 Mbps in January 2025 from ~8 Mbps in 2023. 5G has not been deployed commercially in Lebanon as of 2025, while 4G coverage exists in major cities and the government plans to shut

26 July 2025

Connectivity · Fiber Optics · Internet Access · Lebanon · Starlink

Everything You Need to Know About Internet Access in Italy: From Fiber to Satellite

As of June 2023, 59.6% of Italian households were passed by FTTH, roughly in line with the EU average of about 64%. Fixed broadband in mid-2023 relied on copper DSL for almost all households (99.8% coverage), with FTTC/VDSL coverage at 96.4% and VDSL2 speeds often exceeding 100 Mbps near cabinets. FTTH is the fastest-growing fixed broadband technology, with major deployments by TIM’s FiberCop and Open Fiber across the country. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is pivotal in rural areas, with EOLO covering 6,500+ municipalities and about 79% of homes in low-density areas, offering 30–100 Mbps services. 4G LTE coverage is near

22 July 2025

Broadband · Connectivity · Internet · Italy · Technology

Digital Lifeline: Internet Access in Malta from Fibre to Satellite

Malta has 100% fixed broadband coverage with gigabit-capable networks via fiber or upgraded cable, exceeding the EU average of 70% and ranking 6th in the 2022 DESI index for digital development. As of early 2024, FTTH connections accounted for about 34% of fixed broadband subscriptions, up from 26.8% in 2023. GO’s True Fibre network offers up to 1000 Mbps download, with about 96% geographic fiber coverage achieved by 2023 and a target of 100% FTTH by end-2025. Melita’s DOCSIS 3.1 cable network delivers gigabit download speeds nationwide and Melita launched a 2.5 Gbps residential plan in 2023. Epic markets fiber

20 July 2025

Broadband · Connectivity · Internet · Malta · Technology

Internet Access and Satellite Connectivity in Honduras: A Digital Lifeline in Central America

As of early 2024, about 7.03 million Hondurans were internet users, representing 65.9% of the population. Internet penetration rose from roughly 25–30% in the mid-2010s to about 61% in 2023 and 66% in 2024. There is a sharp urban-rural divide, with about 55% of urban residents online in 2019 versus around 20% of rural residents. In 2024, Honduras had 8.41 million active mobile cellular connections, roughly 79% of the population, with many people using multiple SIM cards. By 2023, about 85% of the population had access to at least a basic 4G signal from Tigo and Claro, though speeds differ

19 July 2025

Central America · Connectivity · Honduras · Internet · NASDAQ:VSAT · NYSE:AMX · Satellite

From Submarine Cables to Starlink: Marshall Islands Internet Connectivity in 2025

The HANTRU-1 cable is 2,917 km long with a 160 Gbps design capacity, extended to Majuro and Kwajalein/Ebeye in 2010, linking to a Pohnpei hub and onward to Guam. A 2017 HANTRU-1 cable fault caused a nationwide 3-week outage, forcing a 97% bandwidth cut as the islands relied on limited satellite links. The East Micronesia Cable (EMC) project, funded by Japan, Australia, and the US, connects Kosrae (FSM) and Tarawa (Kiribati) to Pohnpei and HANTRU-1, with completion expected around 2025–26 and improved resilience. The Central Pacific Cable (CPC) is a 15,900 km subsea link from Guam to American Samoa with

17 July 2025

Connectivity · Infrastructure · Internet · Marshall Islands · NASDAQ:I · Satellite

Internet Access in Germany 2025: DSL, Cable, Fiber, 5G, and Satellite Connectivity

By mid-2023, 99% of German households had access to fixed broadband, and 95.6% were covered by next-generation NGA networks (≥30 Mbps). As of the end of 2023, Germany had about 37.0 million fixed broadband lines in service. DSL remained the most prevalent technology, but only about 40% of households could get full FTTH/B fiber by late 2023. 4G mobile networks cover virtually 100% of the population, while 5G networks cover over 95% as of 2023. In rural areas, NGA coverage reached 86.3% of households, Very High Capacity Networks (fiber or DOCSIS 3.1 cable) reached about 57%, and FTTH coverage was

16 July 2025

Broadband · Connectivity · Germany · Internet · NYSE:TEF · Technology

Internet Access in Lithuania

4G LTE coverage reaches over 99% of Lithuania’s population, and 5G was rolled out in 2022–2023, with Telia Lietuva activating 5G in 2022 and reaching about 95% of the population and 99% of the territory by summer 2023 after mid-2022 spectrum auctions of 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz. By 2023, fiber-optic (FTTP) lines passed about 61% of residential premises, giving roughly 78% FTTP coverage nationwide, while around 77% of homes had access to some fixed broadband (fiber, cable, or DSL). Rural fixed broadband coverage was about 69% of rural households in 2023, with only about 23–24% of rural homes having

15 July 2025

Connectivity · Digital Access · Internet · Lithuania · Technology

Connectivity News 15 July 2025 - 5 August 2025