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JSE:MTN 7 February 2025 - 9 September 2025

Global Internet Access Shockwaves: Cable Cuts, Censorship & Broadband Booms (Sept 6–7, 2025)

Global Internet Access Shockwaves: Cable Cuts, Censorship & Broadband Booms (Sept 6–7, 2025)

Multiple undersea internet cables were cut in the Red Sea on Sept. 6, disrupting traffic from the Middle East to South Asia. Microsoft warned Azure users of higher latency as data rerouted, while Pakistan saw a nationwide slowdown. Internet speeds dropped for UAE customers on du and Etisalat. India also reported degraded service.
Global Internet Access Shake-Up: Outages, Crackdowns, and a Race to Connect the Unconnected

Global Internet Access Shake-Up: Outages, Crackdowns, and a Race to Connect the Unconnected

SpaceX launched 24 Starlink satellites into polar orbit on Aug. 29, expanding broadband to Alaska and Scandinavia. A major Verizon outage on Aug. 30 left millions in the U.S. without mobile service for hours. Pakistan extended a mobile internet blackout in Balochistan, affecting 15 million people. Russia enacted new internet controls on Sept. 1, introducing fines for online content violations.
How Guinea Is Quietly Getting Online: The Untold Story of Internet Access and Satellite Expansion

How Guinea Is Quietly Getting Online: The Untold Story of Internet Access and Satellite Expansion

As of early 2023, Guinea had 13.46 million active cellular connections, covering about 96% of the population. Orange Guinée held 75% of the mobile market in 2024, while MTN Guinea exited in December, with Telecel set to acquire its 2.8 million users. Fewer than 900 fixed broadband subscribers were recorded in 2022. Starlink was not officially available as of mid-2025, with the regulator warning against unauthorized use.
Iran’s Internet Access Exposed: From Aging ADSL to an Underground Starlink Revolution

Iran’s Internet Access Exposed: From Aging ADSL to an Underground Starlink Revolution

Iran’s National Fiber Optic Plan targets 20 million premises by end-2025, but rollout lags. As of early 2024, internet penetration reached 81.7% with 73.1 million users and 146.5 million mobile connections. Median download speeds were 15 Mbps on fixed broadband and 37 Mbps on mobile. Authorities block major platforms and frequently restrict access; VPN use reached 64% in 2023.
24 June 2025
South Africa’s Internet Access Revolution: The Shocking Truth About Connectivity in 2025

South Africa’s Internet Access Revolution: The Shocking Truth About Connectivity in 2025

Telkom/Openserve’s ADSL subscribers fell below 36,000 by end-2024, down from over 1 million in 2015, as fiber-to-the-home subscriptions rose to 2.47 million. Over 69% of South Africans access the internet via mobile, while only 13% of households have fixed-line internet. Vodacom’s 5G covers 52% of the population, MTN 45%. Starlink’s entry remains blocked by licensing rules as of mid-2025.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Internet Revolution: Fiber Optics, 5G Dreams, and Satellite Solutions

Côte d’Ivoire’s Internet Revolution: Fiber Optics, 5G Dreams, and Satellite Solutions

Côte d’Ivoire had 11.2 million internet users in early 2024, about 38.4% of the population, with urban usage at 50% and rural at 22%. Over 5,200 km of fiber has been laid, aiming for 7,000 km by September 2025. MTN launched 5G sites in late 2023, with commercial rollout set for January 2024. Starlink remains unapproved, while Orange leads mobile and fixed broadband market share.
8 June 2025
Internet Access in Cameroon: The Race to Connect a Nation

Internet Access in Cameroon: The Race to Connect a Nation

About 12.4 million Cameroonians, or 41.9% of the population, used the internet in early 2025, with access concentrated in cities. Cameroon’s fiber backbone spans over 12,000 km and connects to five undersea cables, with plans to add 4,000 km. Mobile connections reached 25.4 million in 2024, but fixed broadband remains below 2%. Starlink is not licensed; imports were banned in 2024.
Internet Access in Nigeria: A Comprehensive Overview

Internet Access in Nigeria: A Comprehensive Overview

Nigeria’s internet relies on undersea cables landing in Lagos, with MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile controlling most subscriptions. Mobile broadband dominates, as fixed-line access remains rare. The Nigerian Communications Commission regulates the sector, setting price floors and overseeing licensing. The government introduced data protection rules in 2019 and sometimes imposes censorship.
Internet Access in Sudan

Internet Access in Sudan

Sudan’s internet backbone runs through Port Sudan, connecting via EASSy and FLAG/FALCON submarine cables, with terrestrial fiber to Egypt and Ethiopia. Zain Sudan leads the mobile market with about 50% share, followed by MTN Sudan at 25%. Internet freedom is rated “Not Free,” and the country has faced repeated nationwide shutdowns, including a 37-day blackout in 2019 and outages during the 2023-2024 conflict.
25 February 2025
Internet Access in Yemen: Overview and Key Aspects

Internet Access in Yemen: Overview and Key Aspects

Yemen relies on the aging FALCON subsea cable for most internet traffic, with limited backup via Djibouti and satellite. As of January 2024, only 17.7% of the population had internet access, and 4G coverage reached 56.7%. Major outages hit in January 2020 and 2022, cutting off most of the country. Starlink launched officially in September 2024, boosting speeds in government-held areas.
24 February 2025
Internet Access in Afghanistan: A Comprehensive Overview

Internet Access in Afghanistan: A Comprehensive Overview

Mobile subscriptions in Afghanistan reached nearly 100% by 2021, but Taliban rule since August 2021 stalled fiber rollout and connectivity projects. Internet penetration fell from 22.9% in 2022 to 18.4% in 2024. Taliban authorities blocked 23.4 million websites, banned TikTok and PUBG, and increased censorship. MTN plans to exit the market; fixed broadband speeds remain among the world’s slowest.
24 February 2025
Internet Access in Syria

Internet Access in Syria

Syria opened public internet access around 2000, years after establishing its first connection in 1997. By 2010–2011, about 4.5 million Syrians were online, but the government kept strict control over infrastructure and content. As of 2021, internet penetration reached 46–47%, still well below the regional average.
7 February 2025
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