Inside the Struggle for Internet Access in Western Sahara: From Political Blackouts to Satellite Lifelines
Western Sahara – a sparsely populated desert territory disputed between Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – faces unique challenges in connecting to the digital world. The region’s political limbo and harsh geography have historically kept it on the margins of internet development. Basic telecom statistics weren’t even tracked separately for Western Sahara for many years due to its contested status en.wikipedia.org. Yet, as the internet becomes essential for economic growth, education, and activism, Western Sahara’s people are striving to get online. This report delves into the current state of internet access in Western Sahara, the providers and infrastructure that enable it, and the obstacles – political, geographic, and economic – that still hamper connectivity. It also compares Western Sahara’s digital landscape with its neighbors and highlights initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide in Africa’s last colony. Internet use in Western Sahara has grown markedly in recent years, though it still lags behind the global average. As of January 2024, there were roughly 398,000 internet users in Western Sahara, representing about 67.1% of the population datareportal.com. This is a dramatic rise – the user base jumped by 19% in one year datareportal.com – indicating rapid uptake of digital
