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Internet 24 February 2025 - 15 May 2025

Internet Access in Russia

Internet Access in Russia

Russia has a vast internet user base and a well-developed core infrastructure. As of early 2025, about 133 million people in Russia were internet users, representing an internet penetration rate of 92.2% of the population datareportal.com pulse.internetsociety.org. This penetration has grown steadily from about 85% in 2020 to over 92% by 2023 pulse.internetsociety.org. In absolute terms, Russia is among the top countries for number of internet users. The country’s backbone infrastructure includes numerous data centers and exchange points – over 100 data centers and 38 Internet Exchange Points operate across Russia, helping route traffic efficiently pulse.internetsociety.org. Major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg serve as hubs for internet exchanges, while long-haul fiber optic trunk lines span the country’s vast geography, connecting even far-flung regions. Russia’s internet is delivered through a mix of fixed and mobile networks. On the fixed side, broadband connectivity reaches the majority of households. On the mobile side, cellular connectivity is ubiquitous – there were 216 million active mobile cellular connections in Russia in 2025, equivalent to 150% of the population datareportal.com. Importantly, 95% of these mobile connections are “broadband”, meaning most users have access to mobile data rather than just voice/SMS datareportal.com. In 2023, Russia had
15 May 2025
Internet Access in India: A Comprehensive Guide for Residents and Tourists

Internet Access in India: A Comprehensive Guide for Residents and Tourists

India has made rapid strides in expanding its internet user base and network infrastructure. As of early 2024, India had roughly 750–950 million internet users, representing about 50–68% of the population m.economictimes.com fortuneindia.com. This marks an annual growth of around 8%, with tens of millions of new users coming online each year. Notably, rural areas now account for about half of India’s internet users, reflecting recent growth beyond the cities m.economictimes.com. However, internet penetration still lags in the countryside – roughly half of the rural population remains offline or not actively using the internet, compared to higher usage in urban areas m.economictimes.com m.economictimes.com. India’s digital infrastructure is characterized by a mobile-first paradigm. There are over 1.15 billion mobile connectionsin use, and the vast majority of internet subscriptions – over 95% – are via wireless mobile networks fortuneindia.com. By contrast, fixed broadband connections make up barely ~4% of the total internet subscriptions fortuneindia.com. This means most Indians access the internet on smartphones over cellular networks, while relatively few have fixed home broadband lines. The government’s Digital India initiative has prioritized expanding digital connectivity, promoting affordable data, and enabling online services nation-wide. There have been massive investments in both telecom towers and
15 May 2025
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Kuala Lumpur’s Lightning-Fast Internet: Blazing Speeds or Overhyped Connection?

Kuala Lumpur’s Lightning-Fast Internet: Blazing Speeds or Overhyped Connection?

Think Kuala Lumpur’s connectivity is all hype? This deep-dive reveals the jaw-dropping truth about 5G, fiber, and Wi-Fi in Malaysia’s capital – including one big surprise for tourists. Kuala Lumpur is at the heart of one of Southeast Asia’s most connected nations. Internet penetration in Malaysia exceeds 97% of the population, with mobile phone subscriptions at roughly 130% trade.gov – meaning KL’s residents are almost all online. The city’s digital infrastructure is highly developed, supported by government initiatives to make Malaysia a regional digital hub trade.gov. As a result, KL enjoys extensive fiber-optic broadband coverage, widespread 4G LTE, and an accelerating 5G rollout. In fact, Malaysia’s 5G network is rated among the region’s best for consistent speeds, and KL was one of the first cities to benefit trade.gov. Overall, Kuala Lumpur’s “digital readiness” is very high – from modern network backbone to a tech-savvy population – making connectivity a key strength of the city.
15 May 2025
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Connected Malaysia 2025: A Complete Guide to Fiber, Mobile, Satellite & Public Internet Access

Connected Malaysia 2025: A Complete Guide to Fiber, Mobile, Satellite & Public Internet Access

Malaysia enjoys high internet penetration and modern digital infrastructure. As of 2022, about 97% of individuals in Malaysia were internet users freedomhouse.org, with nearly 96.9% of populated areas covered by 4G mobile service freedomhouse.org. Internet access has become nearly ubiquitous in cities and towns, driven by widespread mobile broadband adoption and expanding fiber-optic networks. The government’s Jalinan Digital Negarainitiative has been a key driver of improvements – Phase 1 exceeded targets by extending 4G to ~97% population coverage and fiber-optic broadband to 7.74 million premises soyacincau.com. Under JENDELA Phase 2, Malaysia is investing further in digital infrastructure to reach the remaining underserved areas, aiming for 100% internet coverage in populated areas by end of 2025 soyacincau.com malaymail.com. Overall, Malaysia’s connectivity ecosystem is robust and continually improving, making it one of Southeast Asia’s more digitally connected nations. Fiber-optic broadband is widely available in urban and suburban Malaysia, delivering fast and reliable internet to homes and businesses. The incumbent telco Telekom Malaysia, via its Unifi service, has the broadest fiber network coverage in the country soyacincau.com. Competing fiber ISPs exist in many areas – for example, TIME dotCom offers high-speed fiber in major cities with extremely competitive packages soyacincau.com. Maxis, CelcomDigi, and
15 May 2025
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Internet Access in Phuket: A Tourist-Focused Overview

Internet Access in Phuket: A Tourist-Focused Overview

Phuket is well-equipped with modern internet infrastructure, reflecting its status as a major tourism and business hub. High-speed fiber-optic broadband lines have been extended across urban areas of the island, and gigabit-speed fiber-to-the-home service is widely available in Phuket Town and other populated areas ts2.tech en.wikipedia.org. These fiber networks form the backbone of fixed internet access, ensuring that hotels, cafes, and businesses in tourist zones can provide fast connectivity. Phuket was among the first regions in Thailand to benefit from fiber upgrades; as a result, home and business internet plans up to 1 Gbps are on offer hawook.com hawook.com. In parallel, legacy ADSL and cable systems have largely been replaced or supplemented by fiber in the city. Only in some rural or less-developed pockets might older DSL or wireless links still be in use ts2.tech. Mobile network infrastructure in Phuket is also highly developed. All three major Thai mobile operators – AIS, True Move H, and state-run NT – have extensive coverage on the island. Thailand was an early adopter of 5G, and commercial 5G service rolled out in 2020 in major cities en.wikipedia.org. Phuket, alongside Bangkok and Chiang Mai, was among the first to get 5G, and coverage has
15 May 2025
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Maldives’ Internet Revolution: From Remote Atolls to a 5G-Powered Paradise

Maldives’ Internet Revolution: From Remote Atolls to a 5G-Powered Paradise

The Maldives is a geographically dispersed nation of around 1,200 islands spread across the Indian Ocean. Providing telecom and internet access to this archipelago has been a significant challenge historically. The country’s telecom journey began with a state monopoly: Dhiraagu was established in 1988 as the Maldives’ first and sole telecom operator​ Mfr. By the year 2000, basic telephone service reached all inhabited islands, and dial-up internet was available nationwide​ Itu. In the early 2000s, the government liberalized the sector to introduce competition and improve services. A second ISP license was issued in 2003 to Focus Infocom, breaking Dhiraagu’s internet monopoly​ Itu. In 2005, a second mobile operator entered the scene – Wataniya – ending Dhiraagu’s 17-year monopoly on mobile services​ Wikipedia. These steps set the stage for rapid expansion of telecom infrastructure across the islands. Today the Maldives enjoys a modern telecom infrastructure that belies its small size and challenging geography. High-capacity submarine fiber optic cables link the atolls to international internet backbones, and domestic undersea cables plus microwave links connect even the most remote islands. Mobile phone penetration exceeds the population​ Mfr, and internet penetration stood at about 84% of the population in 2024​ Datareportal. However, the path
16 April 2025
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Thailand’s High-Speed Internet Revolution: 5G, Fiber, and the Battle to Bridge the Digital Divide

Thailand’s High-Speed Internet Revolution: 5G, Fiber, and the Battle to Bridge the Digital Divide

Thailand was an early adopter of the internet in Asia, making its first international connection in the late 1980s and moving to full TCP/IP by 1992​ en.wikipedia.org. In the early 2000s, internet access shifted from dial-up to broadband, with a major boost in 2004 when unmetered flat-rate broadband plans were introduced. This change spurred a rapid rise in broadband users from 2005 onward​ en.wikipedia.org. Over the past decade, Thailand has heavily invested in telecommunications infrastructure, especially fiber-optic networks. A government-led Village Broadband Internet project extended high-speed internet to over 75,000 villages​ pulse.internetsociety.org, bringing connectivity to remote areas that previously lacked service. As a result of these “fixed-focused” strategies, Thailand’s fixed broadband world ranking jumped from 34th in 2018 to 11th fastest globally by January 2024​ pulse.internetsociety.org. By 2022, the number of households with fixed broadband had grown to about 21.3 million, nearly doubling from 2016​ pulse.internetsociety.org. This robust infrastructure build-out has laid the foundation for Thailand’s high-speed internet revolution. Thailand’s fixed broadband market is dominated by a few key ISPs, which have consolidated in recent years through mergers and acquisitions. The leading providers are:
12 April 2025
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Wi-Fi on Everest, Firewalls in Lhasa: Inside Tibet’s Internet Revolution

Wi-Fi on Everest, Firewalls in Lhasa: Inside Tibet’s Internet Revolution

Workers install a China Mobile 5G base station at 6,500 meters elevation on Mount Everest in 2020 – the world’s highest 5G site.​ chinadaily.com.cn High-speed internet has reached even the roof of the world. In China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, modern telecommunications now span from Lhasa’s city streets to the remote slopes of the Himalayas. Once isolated by geography, Tibet is increasingly connected via fiber-optic cables and cellular towers that link almost every village​ chinadaily.com.cn​ blogs.library.duke.edu. This dramatic expansion of connectivity comes with a catch: all access is controlled by state-run providers and tightly monitored behind China’s infamous “Great Firewall”​ tibet.net. The result is a high-altitude internet boom – under intensive government surveillance. Below, we dive into Tibet’s telecom infrastructure, mobile and broadband access, digital divides, and the heavy hand of censorship shaping how Tibetans experience the internet in 2025. Tibet has undergone a rapid telecom infrastructure build-out in recent years. By 2019, more than 98% of villages in the region were equipped with fiber-optic broadband and 4G mobile coverage, thanks to billions in government investment​ chinadaily.com.cn. Virtually all county towns and even remote settlements now have network access. The region boasted around 50,000 mobile base stations by the end of
12 April 2025
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High-Speed Himalayas: Inside Nepal’s Race to Connect Every Peak and Village

High-Speed Himalayas: Inside Nepal’s Race to Connect Every Peak and Village

Nepal’s unique geography – from the towering Himalayas to remote hill villages – makes internet access both challenging and crucial. In recent years, Nepal has made significant strides to expand digital connectivity across the country. This report examines Nepal’s internet landscape in detail: the major service providers and their market share, the state of mobile and broadband networks, typical speeds and costs, infrastructure hurdles, satellite internet plans, government policies, the urban-rural digital divide, and future connectivity initiatives. Despite formidable terrain and infrastructural challenges, Nepal is racing to bring high-speed internet from the capital Kathmandu all the way to Everest’s doorstep. Nepal’s internet market is served by a mix of state-owned telecom companies and private ISPs, divided broadly into mobile operators and fixed broadband providers:
5 April 2025
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Bridging 17,000 Islands: Inside Indonesia’s Internet Revolution

Bridging 17,000 Islands: Inside Indonesia’s Internet Revolution

Indonesia’s internet landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation, connecting one of the world’s largest archipelagos through a mix of mobile networks, fiber optics, undersea cables, and even satellites. This comprehensive report explores how Indonesia – a nation of 270+ million people spread across 17,000 islands – is closing its digital divide. We’ll examine the major providers dominating the market, the rollout of 4G and 5G across cities and villages, the state of fixed broadband, infrastructure developments, internet speeds and costs, government policies on content, new satellite services like Starlink, the urban-rural gap in access, and the country’s plans to expand connectivity even further. Indonesia’s telecom market is served by a handful of large operators after years of consolidation:
2 April 2025
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From Yurts to YouTube: Inside Mongolia’s Internet Revolution

From Yurts to YouTube: Inside Mongolia’s Internet Revolution

Mongolia’s internet market is dominated by a few key players. Univision LLC leads with about 62% of the market, making it the largest Internet Service Provider in the country. Univision offers fiber-optic broadband and IPTV services, underpinning its broad market reach. The second largest ISP is MobiCom Corporation, with roughly 15% share. MobiCom is a pioneer in Mongolian telecommunications and operates both mobile networks and internet services. Other notable ISPs include Skymedia Corporation and Mobinet LLC. Smaller providers like ONDO and others make up the rest. This relatively concentrated market means competition has historically been limited – the Internet Society rates Mongolia’s market competitiveness for internet services as “Poor”. In the mobile sector, four operators serve the country: MobiCom, Unitel, Skytel, and G-Mobile. MobiCom and Unitel together account for the majority of mobile subscribers. Unitel, founded in 2005, quickly grew to be the second-largest mobile operator and also offers broadband via its Univision service. Skytel and G-Mobile are smaller players focusing on niche markets. Despite multiple providers, the ISP landscape for broadband has one clear front-runner, with others competing for the remaining share.
2 April 2025
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UAE’s Internet Revolution: Blazing Speeds, Fiber Dominance & the Race to Satellite Connectivity

UAE’s Internet Revolution: Blazing Speeds, Fiber Dominance & the Race to Satellite Connectivity

The United Arab Emirates has transformed into one of the world’s most connected countries, boasting near-universal internet usage u.ae. Aggressive investments in telecommunications infrastructure – from extensive fiber optic networks to early 5G deployment – have yielded world-leading internet speeds. At the same time, the industry remains dominated by two government-linked providers, and authorities impose strict controls on content and services. This report examines the state of internet access in the UAE, covering major service providers, infrastructure coverage, network speeds and pricing, regulatory restrictions, the rise of fiber and 5G, the nascent role of satellite internet, efforts to bridge the digital divide, and future initiatives that are shaping the country’s digital landscape. UAE’s internet and telecom services are effectively a duopoly. The two major ISPs – Etisalat and du – account for virtually the entire market. As of mid-2024, Etisalat served about 12.9 million mobile subscribers, while du had around 8.2 millionsubscribers en.aletihad.ae. Both companies are majority government-owned and offer a full range of services: fixed broadband, mobile voice/data, and TV. There are a few MVNOs, but these operate on the networks of the two main providers budde.com.au budde.com.au. No third full-scale telecom operator exists, and the market is highly
12 March 2025
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Internet Access in North Korea. How North Korea’s Secret Internet Works: Discover the Hidden World of Kwangmyong

Internet Access in North Korea. How North Korea’s Secret Internet Works: Discover the Hidden World of Kwangmyong

North Korea’s government maintains strict control over all internet usage, allowing access to the global Internet only for a small, elite group with special authorization businessinsider.com en.wikipedia.org. The vast majority of citizens are barred from the global web; instead, they are limited to a state-run domestic network. Even for the few permitted users, online activity is heavily monitored. All chats, emails, and web content are filtered and surveilled by the state on domestic networks businessinsider.com. Authorities also block foreign websites – for example, in 2016 North Korea began blocking Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and many South Korean sites to curb the spread of outside information en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Attempting to bypass these controls is extremely dangerous: those caught using unauthorized connections face harsh punishments blog.telegeography.com. In short, North Korea’s leadership tightly censors internet access as part of a broader information blockade, ensuring that citizens only see state-approved content. North Koreans do not have free access to the World Wide Web as known elsewhere. Instead, the government operates a closed domestic intranet called Kwangmyong that serves as an internal substitute for the global internet businessinsider.com. Kwangmyong is a nationwide network with its own websites, online services, email, and search engine, but it is
11 March 2025
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Internet Access in Japan: A Comprehensive Overview

Internet Access in Japan: A Comprehensive Overview

Japan’s internet market is served by a mix of former incumbents and new entrants, with a few major providers dominating subscriber share. The top ISPs for fixed internet access include both traditional telecom companies and cable operators. The leading providers are​ pulse.internetsociety.org: Dozens of smaller ISPs account for the remaining market, often by reselling or utilizing the infrastructure of the above giants. Overall, Japan’s internet service market is highly competitive, with the top five providers accounting for roughly two-thirds of subscriptions​ pulse.internetsociety.org. Market competition is considered “excellent,” giving consumers multiple choices in most areas​ pulse.internetsociety.org. Major mobile network operators also play a role in internet access, especially through mobile broadband and bundled home internet offerings. NTT Docomo leads the mobile segment with about 42% of mobile subscriptions as of 2022, followed by KDDI, SoftBank, and Rakuten​ content.twimbit.com, reflecting a long-standing dominance of the top three carriers even in the era of smartphones.
10 March 2025
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Internet Access Services in Kenya

Internet Access Services in Kenya

Kenya has one of Africa’s more advanced internet markets, but access remains uneven. As of early 2024, roughly 22.7 million Kenyans were using the internet​ datareportal.com. Mobile broadband is the primary mode of access, given high mobile phone penetration, while fixed broadband subscriptions are growing steadily. The government envisions a “digital economy” and has invested in ICT infrastructure, yet a significant digital divide persists between urban and rural regions​ businessdailyafrica.com. This report provides a detailed overview of Kenya’s internet services landscape – covering major providers, infrastructure and coverage, service speeds and pricing, regulatory environment, and ongoing developments in broadband, mobile, and satellite connectivity. Kenya’s internet service provider market includes both mobile network operators and fixed broadband companies. Safaricom, the leading mobile operator, also dominates in fixed internet with a 36.4% market share​ tuko.co.ke. Other major players in fixed broadband are Jamii Telecommunications Ltd – often known by its Faiba brand – with 24.0% share, and Wananchi Group at 17.5%​ tuko.co.ke. Emerging ISPs like Poa Internet have also gained traction by offering affordable wireless broadband, while smaller providers each hold only a few percent of the market​ tuko.co.ke. In total Kenya had about 1.33 million fixed data subscriptions by early 2024​
10 March 2025
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Internet Access Services in Kazakhstan

Internet Access Services in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s telecom market is dominated by a few large providers, led by the former state monopoly Kazakhtelecom. Kazakhtelecom accounts for roughly 60% of the telecom market by revenue​ ar2023.telecom.kz. It owns major stakes in mobile operators Kcell and Tele2/Altel, consolidating much of the market under its group. The chief competitor is Kar-Tel/Beeline Kazakhstan, which has about 28% market share by revenue​ ar2023.telecom.kz and is a leading mobile and broadband provider. Other ISPs include Transtelecom, KazTransCom, Astel, and a multitude of smaller operators, but together they hold a relatively small portion of the market. In terms of internet traffic share by autonomous networks, Kazakhtelecom is the largest, followed by the Beeline network, Tele2 Kazakhstan, and then Kcell​ pulse.internetsociety.org. This reflects an effective duopoly in the consumer market, with Kazakhtelecom and Beeline’s networks serving the vast majority of users. Competition has increased since market liberalization in the 2000s, but Kazakhtelecom still maintains dominance especially in fixed-line and broadband services​ en.wikipedia.org. Mobile services are slightly more competitive, split primarily between Kazakhtelecom’s subsidiaries and Beeline, with new smaller entrants just beginning to emerge​ budde.com.au. Kazakhstan has invested heavily in telecommunications infrastructure, achieving broad coverage across its expansive territory. Major cities and towns are well-connected
10 March 2025
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Internet Access in Nigeria: A Comprehensive Overview

Internet Access in Nigeria: A Comprehensive Overview

Nigeria’s internet infrastructure relies on a combination of undersea fiber-optic cables, terrestrial networks, and a handful of dominant service providers. Multiple international submarine cables land in Nigeria, connecting it to global internet hubs. Key cables include: These undersea cables terminate in Lagos and other coastal landing stations, feeding into national fiber backbones. A number of companies have deployed fiber-optic networks crisscrossing the country, including Phase3 Telecom, MainOne, Globacom, Suburban Telecom, and MTN​ Ecoi. Internet exchange points in at least five regions help route domestic traffic locally​ Ecoi, improving speed and reducing costs.
3 March 2025
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Internet Access in Sudan

Internet Access in Sudan

Sudan’s internet infrastructure relies on a national fiber-optic backbone and international gateways centered at Port Sudan. The country is connected to several submarine cables, including the East Africa Submarine System and FLAG/FALCON networks, which land at the Red Sea coast​ en.wikipedia.org. Terrestrial fiber links extend to neighboring countries to route traffic regionally. However, fixed-line broadband infrastructure is limited and much of the population accesses the internet via wireless networks. Sudan maintains satellite earth stations for international connectivity as well​ en.wikipedia.org, but satellite links historically served mainly as backups or for remote areas. Major service providers: Sudan’s telecom market is served by a handful of operators:
25 February 2025
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Internet Access in Yemen: Overview and Key Aspects

Internet Access in Yemen: Overview and Key Aspects

Yemen’s internet infrastructure is limited and highly centralized. The backbone relies on a few aging international connections and an outdated domestic network. A single subsea cable – the FALCON/FLAG system landing at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah – carries most of Yemen’s bandwidth​ ukraine.wilsoncenter.org​ washingtoninstitute.org. In fact, almost all connectivity comes through this one aging cable, with only a narrow backup link via Djibouti and some expensive satellite links​ washingtoninstitute.org. During the civil war, land fiber links to Saudi Arabia were destroyed, leaving the country largely dependent on undersea cables​ washingtoninstitute.org. Internal infrastructure consists of microwave relays and limited fiber, with fixed-line broadband largely delivered via old DSL over copper telephone lines​ smex.org. This network has not seen significant upgrades during the conflict, resulting in very low bandwidth and reliability​ smex.org. Major service providers in Yemen include:
24 February 2025
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Internet Access in Iraq

Internet Access in Iraq

Iraq’s internet infrastructure has expanded significantly since the early 2000s, though much of the core network remains under government ownership. The Ministry of Communications controls the national fiber-optic backbone and international gateways, leasing bandwidth to private ISPs​ trade.gov. Iraq is connected via terrestrial fiber links to all six neighboring countries and to undersea cables like Gulf Bridge International, but overall capacity is still catching up to demand​ trade.gov. The state fixed-line network is in poor condition, with limited fiber-to-the-home projects concentrated in Baghdad​ trade.gov. As a result, most Iraqis access the internet through wireless means – either mobile networks, Wi-Fi at internet cafes, or local neighborhood Wi-Fi providers – since last-mile fixed broadband is not widely available​ trade.gov. These community-based networks share bandwidth leading to relatively low speeds per user​ trade.gov. Major Service Providers: The market has diversified from the days when Uruklink was the sole provider. Today dozens of ISPs operate, often reselling capacity from the MoC backbone​ en.wikipedia.org. Earthlink Telecommunications is the largest and fastest-growing ISP, offering nationwide services including fiber and wireless broadband​ kapita.iq. Other notable private ISPs include ScopeSky, IQ Networks, Newroz Telecom, and regional providers in the Kurdistan Region, which often use wireless and VSAT
24 February 2025
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Stock Market Today

  • Market, Banks Shutter for July 4; Mail Runs July 3, Markets Shut Early
    July 2, 2026, 8:16 AM EDT. Independence Day lands on a Saturday this year, changing hours for many. The U.S. Postal Service stays open on July 3 and delivers mail as normal, then shuts down July 4. Banks mostly open July 3, though some cut hours, but all close for the holiday July 4. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq both close on July 3 to mark the holiday, with trading picking up again July 6. Many federal government buildings are shut July 3; local agencies may differ. FedEx and UPS are running July 3 but could shorten services. Check schedules before heading out during the holiday.
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