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

Key Facts

New Connectivity Projects: SpaceX launched 24 Starlink broadband satellites into polar orbit on Aug. 29, expanding coverage to high-latitude regions like Alaska and Scandinavia. Amazon’s Project Kuiper says it will begin delivering satellite internet service by late 2025, with thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites planned. In Africa, Meta (Facebook) and Kenya’s Safaricom announced a joint $23 million investment in a new 4,100 km undersea cable linking Kenya and Oman – the “Daraja” system – to cut internet costs and boost East African connectivity. Meanwhile, Djibouti Telecom unveiled plans to extend its DARE1 submarine cable down the East African coast (adding new landings in Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar and South Africa) with construction from 2026 and service by 2028.
5G Rollouts and Partnerships: In India, Reliance Industries and Meta (Facebook’s parent) are forming a $100 million joint venture to develop AI-powered digital connectivity tools for businesses, leveraging Meta’s Llama AI models on Reliance Jio’s network. Pakistan’s government, after years of delay, confirmed plans to auction 5G spectrum by December 2025 – a long-awaited step to launch next-gen mobile services soon after. Turkey likewise set October 16, 2025 for its first 5G spectrum tender, with commercial 5G service expected by April 2026 ^[1] ^[2]. To migrate users off legacy networks, South Africa’s MTN is offering 1.2 million subsidized 4G smartphones for just 99 rand (~$5) each to low-income customers ahead of a 2G/3G shutdown in 2027. “We are committed to going the extra mile to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital era,” said MTN South Africa’s CEO, describing the effort to connect more people as 4G/5G expand.
Internet Outages and Shutdowns: A major Verizon wireless outage hit the United States on Aug. 30, leaving millions of mobile users from California to New York with phones stuck in “SOS only” emergency mode for hours. Verizon attributed the blackout to a software issue and saw over 23,000 outage reports at its peak before services were restored later that night. In Pakistan, authorities extended a mobile internet blackout across the entire province of Balochistan (home to ~15 million people) for security reasons. The 3G/4G shutdown began in early August amid a surge of separatist violence and was further prolonged beyond its initial August 31 deadline, keeping millions offline. And in Iraq, the Ministry of Communications ordered nationwide internet blackouts from 6:00–8:00 AM local time on exam days (late August through mid-September) to prevent high-school test cheating. These exam-time outages were implemented daily in that period, disrupting connectivity for both students and businesses during the morning hours.
Policy and Censorship Crackdowns:Russia enacted sweeping new internet controls on September 1 as part of a broader crackdown on online content. Russians now face fines (up to 5,000 roubles) if they even search for information deemed “extremist,” a category that includes content from banned opposition groups and even the “international LGBT movement”. The law, which also targets VPN usage to access banned sites, is purposely vague – critics warn it’s designed “to create fear” and raise self-censorship among users ^[3]. VPN services are under fire too: a new rule bans any advertising or promotion of VPNs, tightening Russians’ access to uncensored Internet ^[4]. Additionally, the government ordered that all new smartphones and tablets sold in Russia must come pre-installed with a state-approved messaging app (“Max”) and the domestic app store RuStore as of Sept. 1. Officials have openly threatened to ban WhatsApp – Russia’s most-used messenger – as it is owned by “extremist” designated Meta, hinting that WhatsApp should “prepare to leave the Russian market”. Together, these moves mark a dramatic escalation in Russia’s online censorship; one digital rights advocate said “the main task…is to create fear…to increase the level of self-censorship” among Russian internet users ^[5].
Bridging the Digital Divide: A new U.N. report warns that about 2.6 billion people (one-third of humanity) remain offline, and achieving universal connectivity by 2030 will require an estimated $2.6–2.8 trillion in investment. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) calls this an urgent global priority, emphasizing that “digital connectivity means creating opportunities for education, jobs, and access to essential services” – and should be seen as an investment in human potential, not just a cost. The ITU’s Partner2Connect coalition has so far secured about $51 billion in pledges toward funding connectivity projects (just over half of its $100 billion target for 2026). Around the world, new initiatives are targeting underserved areas: the Internet Society Foundation, for example, just funded nine community-led connectivity projects across Africa, Latin America, and Asia – from indigenous women building local networks in the Amazon to solar-powered Wi-Fi hubs in rural Senegal and community broadband in Uganda. These grassroots projects, alongside major carrier programs like MTN’s low-cost smartphone distribution, aim to “connect as many people as possible” and ensure the next wave of 4G/5G expansion leaves no one behind.

Infrastructure and Satellite Internet Developments

Major investments in physical internet infrastructure were unveiled over the past 48 hours, spanning undersea cables and satellites. SpaceX completed its fourth Starlink launch from California in a month, lofting 24 satellites on August 29 to enhance coverage in polar regions. This bolsters SpaceX’s constellation of over 8,000 active satellites, which is already delivering broadband to dozens of countries. Rival project Kuiper – Amazon’s satellite internet network – is also accelerating: Amazon announced it expects to begin beta service by late 2025, after deploying its first 27 satellites in April and scheduling another launch for Sept. 25. Kuiper plans to eventually operate 3,200+ satellites aimed at blanketing underserved areas with up to 1 Gbps speeds. These satellite rollouts are poised to bring connectivity to remote communities from the Arctic to rural Asia, complementing ground networks.

On the subsea front, new transoceanic cables are being laid to boost bandwidth and resiliency. Kenya’s leading telco Safaricom, with backing from Meta’s infrastructure arm, just unveiled the Daraja cable – a 4,100 km undersea fiber link between Mombasa, Kenya and Muscat, Oman. The $23 million system (Safaricom’s first owned subsea cable) will add a new high-capacity route out of East Africa, reducing reliance on older cables and cutting wholesale internet costs in the region. “Until now [Safaricom] has relied on third-party undersea systems… By co-owning a cable, [it] secures greater independence and can expand capacity on demand,” a Safaricom statement noted. Further north, Djibouti Telecom announced an extension of its DARE1 submarine cable down the East African coast. The planned expansion (3,200–3,500 km) will add new landing points in Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, and South Africa, effectively linking the Horn of Africa to the continent’s southern tip. Construction is slated to start in 2026 with a ready-for-service date in 2028. The aim is to improve route diversity and network resilience – an important step as recent undersea cable cuts (from the Baltic Sea to the Red Sea) have highlighted vulnerabilities in the global internet backbone.

In addition, the United States is moving to secure its own subsea networks. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to tighten rules on undersea cables, proposing to bar the use of any Chinese equipment on new U.S.-linked cable systems and streamline permitting for trusted operators. “We have seen submarine cable infrastructure threatened in recent years by foreign adversaries, like China,” said FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, underscoring the need to guard the 400+ global subsea cables that carry 99% of international data. The FCC also wants to speed up cable licensing to encourage more investment – since modern cables can cost $30,000–$50,000 per kilometer and take years to deploy. Together, these developments show a push to expand capacity while securing critical internet infrastructure against both bottlenecks and geopolitical risks.

Mobile Networks and Connectivity Initiatives

The beginning of September saw significant moves in mobile connectivity – from 5G spectrum plans to innovative partnerships – especially in emerging markets. In Pakistan, government officials have at last given the green light for a 5G spectrum auction to be held by December 2025, after repeated delays in rolling out next-generation service. A briefing to Pakistan’s Senate revealed that 606 MHz of spectrum (including key mid-band frequencies at 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz) is available for the 5G auction, which the Prime Minister has demanded be completed by end of next year. This comes despite legal disputes over some bands – authorities are pushing ahead, noting that Pakistan’s neighbors have far more spectrum in use and warning that further delays will hurt economic growth. In tandem, Turkey announced it will hold its first 5G tender on October 16, 2025, with the goal of telecom operators launching 5G services by April 1, 2026 ^[6] ^[7]. Turkey’s auction will offer 11 frequency blocks (in 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands) valued at a minimum $2.1 billion total ^[8]. This long-awaited sale is expected to include Turkey’s big three mobile carriers (Turkcell, Turk Telekom, and Vodafone TR) and finally put Turkey on the 5G map, as the country so far has only 4.5G (LTE-Advanced) networks.

Some of the most ambitious connectivity initiatives involve public-private tech partnerships. In India, Reliance Jio – the country’s largest mobile operator – announced a deep alliance with Meta (Facebook’s parent) to develop AI-driven digital services for enterprises. The two companies will form a new joint venture, capitalized at roughly $100 million (₹855 crore) with 70% from Reliance and 30% from Meta. The venture’s mission is to build “Llama-powered” AI platforms (referencing Meta’s open-source Llama language model) that businesses can use for tasks like customer service chatbots, marketing, and workflow automation. By combining Meta’s AI research with Jio’s extensive network and data center footprint, the partners aim to offer affordable, at-scale AI solutions “for every Indian organization – from ambitious startups to blue-chip corporates,” said Reliance’s chairman Mukesh Ambani. Mark Zuckerberg also cheered the move, saying it will put Meta’s AI into real-world use and expand Meta’s presence in enterprise tech. This joint venture builds on an existing relationship (Meta and Google both hold minority stakes in Jio Platforms) and highlights a trend of telecom giants teaming with Big Tech to accelerate digital transformation in emerging markets.

Mobile operators are also taking novel steps to grow 4G and eventually 5G adoption among lower-income users. In South Africa, MTN (which serves nearly 40 million subscribers there) kicked off a program to migrate millions of 2G/3G users onto 4G smartphones before older networks shut down. The company will sell 4G Android phones for just 99 rand – about $5.40 – to 1.2 million of its prepaid customers who currently rely on basic phones. The subsidized devices (normally retailing ~$40) are being rolled out in phases through 2026, starting with 5,000 testers and then expanding to over 130,000 users nationwide in phase 2. By phase 3, over 1.1 million ultra-budget smartphones will be distributed. This initiative comes as South Africa plans to deactivate 2G and 3G signals by end of 2027 to free up spectrum for 4G/5G. It also addresses concerns that shutting off older networks could widen the digital divide. Many low-income and rural users can’t afford smartphones, so MTN is effectively fronting the cost. “As the country transitions to 4G and 5G, it is vital we take proactive steps to connect as many South Africans as possible,” MTN South Africa’s CEO Charles Molapisi said, emphasizing the company’s commitment to “ensure that no one is left behind in the digital era.” The effort not only preserves MTN’s customer base as technology evolves, but is praised by digital inclusion advocates – one South African NGO noted that a smartphone is “the prerequisite for participating in the modern internet economy,” and applauded MTN’s move to make them accessible.

Internet Outages and Disruptions

Despite the forward progress in infrastructure, the past few days have also brought sudden internet disruptions affecting millions of users – whether from technical failures, security shutdowns, or government orders. In the United States, Verizon suffered a nationwide outage on Saturday, Aug. 30 that highlighted the fragility of even advanced networks. Beginning around noon Eastern time, Verizon mobile customers across large parts of the country reported that their phones showed “SOS only” – indicating no normal service, only emergency call capability. “All my L.A. friends…don’t have service either,” one frustrated user told CBS News during the blackout. By mid-afternoon the outage reports peaked above 23,000. Verizon acknowledged a software issue had impacted its 4G/5G wireless network and said engineers were working urgently on a fix. It took roughly 9 hours for service to be fully restored nationwide. The company apologized for the disruption, which was its third major outage of 2025 and renewed questions about reliability ^[9]. While emergency 911 calling remained available via other carriers (thanks to SOS mode), many customers were unable to use mobile data or make routine calls for most of the day. Industry analysts noted a cascading effect: even users who weren’t on Verizon experienced slowdowns on apps like Instagram and X (Twitter), due to those services dealing with Verizon’s network issues indirectly.

In South Asia and the Middle East, government-imposed internet shutdowns continue to punctuate daily life, often linked to security crackdowns or events like exams. In Pakistan, a widespread mobile internet blackout in Balochistan province – which began on August 6 amid a military offensive against Baloch insurgents – is still ongoing and was extended through early September. Officials initially cut 3G/4G data services for what was supposed to be a three-week period (to August 31) “because [militants] use it for coordination and sharing information,” a provincial spokesman said. With attacks continuing, authorities kept Balochistan’s 8.5 million mobile subscribers offline into September, citing “law and order” needs. The blackout has crippled daily life: freelancers and students can’t work or study, telemedicine and online banking are down, and even local businesses struggle as digital payments falter. The Human Rights Commission of Balochistan blasted the prolonged outage as a “grave infringement of fundamental rights”. Neighboring countries have used similar tactics – notably, Iraq implemented recurring internet shutdowns to prevent cheating during national high school exams. For the exam period from late August to mid-September, the Iraqi government ordered daily outages from 6:00–8:00 AM across all networks. Both federal Iraq and the Kurdistan region have made a habit of such “exam blackouts” in recent years, despite public outcry. During those morning hours, connectivity for all users (not just students) was disrupted nationwide, affecting businesses and ministries as well. Education officials argue it’s necessary to protect the integrity of tests, since in past years exam questions were leaked online in advance. But digital rights groups counter that cutting off the internet is a blunt approach that hurts the broader economy and access to information. It’s estimated Iraq imposed over a dozen shutdown days in this exam season alone.

Not all outages were intentional – some were collateral damage from conflict or accidents. Syria and Gaza, for instance, saw periodic internet blackouts in the past week linked to electricity cuts and instability. However, on the whole, the first days of September did not see large outages in Europe or East Asia, where networks remained stable. The global disruptions were more localized, underscoring a digital divide in resilience: wealthier regions often have more redundant infrastructure to prevent single points of failure, whereas in developing areas a single fiber cut or government order can take an entire province offline. These incidents also highlight the growing reliance on connectivity. In the U.S. outage, many Verizon customers could not summon rideshares, process payments, or receive work communications during the downtime – prompting some to call for stronger oversight of telecom reliability. And in places like Pakistan and Iraq, the tension continues between security objectives and the economic cost of shutting off the internet, as governments increasingly reach for the “kill switch” in times of crisis or political sensitivity.

Policy and Censorship: Russia’s New Digital Iron Curtain

On September 1, Russia implemented a sweeping set of new internet regulations that significantly tighten state control over online activity. These measures – passed earlier in the summer but now in force – mark one of the Kremlin’s most aggressive attempts yet to police cyberspace. A new law now makes it an offense for Russian citizens to even search for banned information online, under the pretext of combating “extremist content.” In practice, this means if a user looks up content related to organizations or topics blacklisted by the state (ranging from opposition political movements to pro-LGBT messages), they could be fined up to 5,000 roubles (~$64) for the act of searching. The law explicitly includes searches via VPNs as punishable – closing a loophole Russians have used to access blocked sites. “It’s not immediately clear how they’ll determine intent in an online search,” one digital rights advocate noted, calling the vague wording ripe for abuse. Even some pro-government figures voiced concern that such fines could be a gateway to harsher criminal charges later.

Concurrently, Russian authorities banned the advertising or promotion of VPN services – a move to choke off Russians’ access to uncensored internet. VPNs (virtual private networks) have been a lifeline for millions in Russia to reach independent news and Western social media, but the state communications regulator Roskomnadzor has been pressuring app stores to remove popular VPN apps. As of this week, even recommending a VPN can be deemed illegal advertising. In another bold step, the government mandated that all new smartphones, tablets, and computers sold in Russia must have certain Russian software pre-installed. This includes “Max”, a new state-run messaging app touted as a homegrown alternative to WhatsApp, and RuStore, a domestic app store meant to replace Google Play. The requirement took effect on September 1; retailers risk fines if they sell devices without these apps. (Apple’s iOS remains a challenge, as it doesn’t allow third-party app stores – how Russia will enforce RuStore on iPhones is unclear.) The Kremlin has also hinted at a looming ban on WhatsApp itself. Anton Gorelkin, a senior lawmaker, warned in July that “it’s time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market,” given its owner Meta is labeled “extremist” in Russia. So far, WhatsApp remains one of the few Western platforms not yet blocked, but that may change soon. The popular Telegram messenger (which is Russian-developed) and domestic apps are being positioned to fill the gap.

Critics say these moves, taken together, are meant to create a “sovereign internet” – insulating the Russian web from outside ideas and monitoring citizens’ online lives. Sergei Boyarsky, head of the Duma’s IT committee, defended the search fines law by claiming it targets only those “one step away from extremism” and is preferable to outright blocking platforms like Google or WhatsApp. But human rights groups note the lack of judicial standards. Yekaterina Mizulina, a usually pro-Kremlin internet advocate, called the law’s wording “vague” and warned it could lead to “a wave of fraud, blackmail and extortion” – for instance, bad actors could trick someone into clicking a forbidden link, then threaten to report them unless paid off. Many observers see the goal as self-censorship. “I think this is one of the main tasks…to create fear, to create such uncertainty so as to increase the level of self-censorship among the Russian internet audience,” said Sarkis Darbinyan, founder of digital rights group Roskomsvoboda ^[10]. Early evidence suggests the effect is chilling: Telegram channels in Russia lit up with users asking which search terms are now unsafe and how the government might be tracking queries.

Additionally, Russia’s “Ograničitel’ny” (Restrictive) internet regime now requires device makers to include Russian chat apps. Max – the state messenger that launched this year – is heavily promoted as a “WhatsApp replacement” integrated with government services and has already gained 18 million users, officials claim. Privacy experts, however, have raised alarms that Max could be a surveillance tool. (The Kremlin denies this, insisting Max “has fewer permissions to access user data than rivals” ^[11].) The domestic app store RuStore is similarly part of Russia’s digital sovereignty drive; it’s now mandatory on Android devices and, by decree, should be on Apple devices too, although Apple’s compliance remains doubtful. All told, this package of measures – fines, bans, pre-installs – significantly expands the government’s grip. It comes on top of Russia’s existing blocks on Facebook, Instagram, and many independent news sites since the Ukraine war began. With a presidential election due in March 2024, analysts suggest the Kremlin is ensuring that the Runet (Russian internet) will be tightly controlled in the lead-up. The result is an ever more insular Russian web, where citizens are nudged to use government-approved apps under the watchful eye of state censors, and the cost of seeking unfiltered information continues to rise.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Funding and Initiatives

While some governments tighten the internet, others and international organizations are focused on expanding it – especially to the roughly 2.6 billion people still offline. A new ITU report released for the U.N. “Summit of the Future” this week delivered a stark message: achieving “universal, meaningful connectivity” by 2030 will cost an estimated $2.6 trillion to $2.8 trillion in investment. That figure is nearly five times higher than a similar estimate made just three years ago, reflecting both the scale of the challenge and rising infrastructure costs. The report (“Connecting Humanity Action Blueprint”) breaks down the needs: about $1.6–1.7 trillion for building out hard infrastructure (fiber-optic backbone, rural cell towers, satellite coverage), roughly $1 trillion to improve affordability of devices and data plans, and around $150 billion for digital skills training and local content/services to make connectivity useful. Currently, internet use is highly unequal – in 2024, 93% of people in high-income countries are online, versus only 27% in low-income countries. Without massive investment, the ITU warns, this gap will “entrench inequalities” and leave developing nations further behind in education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.

Encouragingly, some funding is beginning to flow. The ITU’s Partner2Connect (P2C) digital coalition – launched in 2021 to mobilize resources – has amassed over $50 billion in pledges so far for connectivity projects worldwide. Specifically, 900+ pledges worth ~$51 billion have been recorded on P2C’s platform, ranging from government commitments and private-sector investments to philanthropic grants. That’s just a dent in the $100 billion P2C goal set for 2026, but new pledges are being announced continually (at this week’s forum, Brazil committed $549 million from its 5G auction proceeds to connect thousands of public schools). The U.N. is urging “innovative financing” and multi-stakeholder partnerships to close the gap, noting that traditional public funding alone won’t suffice. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin stressed that internet access should be seen as “an investment in human potential, rather than a burden”, since it unlocks education, jobs and services. “Digital connectivity means creating opportunities…that can transform lives and communities,” she said, adding that while the costs are significant, they will “contribute to a prosperous digital future for all.”

On the ground, numerous grassroots initiatives are tackling connectivity in underserved areas. The Internet Society Foundation (the charitable arm of the Internet Society) announced funding for nine new community network projects spanning Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. These grants (part of its “BOLT” program) support creative solutions to reach those beyond the edge of commercial networks. For example, one project led by indigenous women in the Amazon will extend solar-powered Wi-Fi and build local digital skills among remote Peruvian and Ecuadorian villages. In Uganda, a community-driven model will provide free village Wi-Fi hotspots and create digital empowerment centers in the rural north. Another grant will deploy solar internet kiosks in Senegal to bring connectivity and electricity to off-grid communities. And in South Africa, a team is integrating small-scale 4G community cellular with existing neighborhood Wi-Fi to blanket underserved townships with mobile broadband. All these efforts share a theme: they combine technology with local engagement and training, ensuring the networks are used effectively and maintained by the community. The Internet Society notes it has helped over 50 communities build their own connectivity in recent years, proving that “the internet is for everyone” when local stakeholders are empowered.

Private sector players are also pitching in to reduce the affordability barrier. As noted, MTN’s plan in South Africa to supply $5 smartphones is one such example, aiming to make sure poorer households can enjoy 4G service. In India, Reliance Jio separately announced it will launch an “JioBharat” affordable smartphone and data plan to migrate 2G users (from rival networks) onto 4G – continuing Jio’s strategy of low-cost, high-volume internet adoption. And organizations like the Alliance for Affordable Internet are advocating policy changes (like reducing exorbitant spectrum fees and import taxes on devices) to drive down consumer prices. The U.N. Broadband Commission’s target is for 1 GB of mobile data to cost less than 2% of monthly income – yet in three-quarters of low-income countries, it currently exceeds 5% of monthly GNI. That underscores the importance of both market solutions (cheap devices, innovative business models) and policy interventions (subsidies, USF funds, regulatory reform).

Despite the challenges, there is optimism that with concerted effort, the world can make huge strides in connectivity this decade. New undersea cables like those in Africa, satellite mega-constellations, national 5G rollouts, and community networks all form pieces of the puzzle. As one delegate in the U.N. meetings put it, “Bridging the digital divide is foundational, not optional.” It will require mobilizing trillions in capital, but the payoff – a more inclusive digital future where opportunity is not dictated by one’s zip code or income – is immeasurable. Every week, from big tech partnerships to small village Wi-Fi projects, we see steps in that direction. The first days of September 2025 captured this dichotomy in internet news: even as parts of the world went dark due to outages or were walled off by censorship, others were lighting up new connections and committing resources to ensure no one is left disconnected in the years to come.

Sources: Global news reports and official statements, September 2–3, 2025. ^[12]

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