Inside the Struggle for Internet Access in Western Sahara: From Political Blackouts to Satellite Lifelines
As of January 2024, Western Sahara had about 398,000 internet users, roughly 67.1% of the population, up by 65,000 users (a 19% increase) from 2023. By early 2024 about 87% of the population lived in urban areas (Laayoune, Dakhla, Smara, Boujdour), while about 32.9% remained offline, concentrated in rural or nomadic communities. The median fixed broadband speed in early 2024 was about 19.9 Mbps, a 30% year-over-year improvement but still behind global averages. Over 57% of Western Sahara’s population uses social media, totaling around 341,000 people, with social media penetration near 58%. Connectivity in Western Sahara is dominated by Maroc