The Digital Desert: Inside Equatorial Guinea’s Struggle for Internet Access

Equatorial Guinea is an oil-rich nation often dubbed a “digital desert” due to its severely limited internet access. Despite one of Africa’s highest GDPs per capita, the country has among the world’s worst connectivity in terms of cost, speed, and availability newscentral.africa connectingafrica.com. With internet prices reaching nearly $50 per gigabyte – the most expensive globally connectingafrica.com connectingafrica.com – going online remains a luxury few can afford. This report explores how historical, infrastructural, and political factors have shaped Equatorial Guinea’s internet landscape, and what efforts are underway to bridge the digital divide.

Historical Context and Evolution of Internet Services

Equatorial Guinea came late to the internet revolution. Full internet access was first introduced in 1997 via a connection through France integrallc.com. For many years afterward, growth was slow under a state-controlled telecom monopoly. By 2010, only about 2% of the population were internet users integrallc.com. A single state-owned provider, GETESA (partly owned by Orange S.A. of France), dominated the market, and connectivity was initially delivered mainly through expensive satellite links integrallc.com integrallc.com.

Reforms in 2008 opened the door for new operators, ending GETESA’s exclusive hold integrallc.com. HiTs Telecom (a Kuwaiti-backed firm operating under the name Green Com or Muni) entered as a second mobile operator, spurring some competition. GETESA responded by cutting prices several times and launching its first marketing campaigns in decades integrallc.com. In 2012, a third operator, GECOMSA (jointly owned by the state and a Chinese partner), was created to further expand services en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org.

During the early 2010s, the government outlined a development blueprint called Horizonte 2020 with ambitions to modernize infrastructure, including telecommunications integrallc.com. A national fiber-optic backbone was planned, and critically, Equatorial Guinea invested in undersea fiber-optic cables. By 2012 the country connected to the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable, linking West Africa to Europe integrallc.com. Additional domestic undersea cables (often referred to as Ceiba-1 and Ceiba-2) were laid to link the mainland (Rio Muni) with the island of Bioko, and to connect with neighboring countries. By the late 2010s, Equatorial Guinea theoretically had access to three separate international submarine cables, a striking contrast to its persistently poor internet service newscentral.africa.

Despite these developments, meaningful improvements for users lagged. In 2012, only 13.9% of Equatoguineans were online en.wikipedia.org. Internet use did grow over the next decade – roughly 26% of the population had internet access by 2019 newscentral.africa – but this remained far below global averages. The slow pace was due to high costs and the regime’s cautious approach to open information. As one commentator noted in 2011, Equatorial Guinea had the wealth and technology to achieve high connectivity, but “successful development hinges on an opaque government” resistant to change integrallc.com.

Current Infrastructure and Internet Penetration

Today, Equatorial Guinea’s internet infrastructure is a mix of modern fiber optics and aging last-mile networks. International bandwidth is supplied by multiple undersea cables, giving the country ample potential capacity newscentral.africa. The state telecom wholesaler GITGE manages these infrastructure assets and the national fiber backbone, which connects major cities like Malabo (the capital on Bioko Island) and Bata (on the mainland). In theory, fiber backhaul should enable high-speed connectivity nationwide, but the reality on the ground is very different.

Internet penetration in Equatorial Guinea has risen in recent years, primarily through mobile phone usage. By 2023, roughly 60% of the population was counted as internet users worlddata.info, a remarkable increase from the low teens a decade prior. (It should be noted that this figure likely counts anyone with occasional mobile data access; regular home broadband usage is much lower.) Indeed, fixed broadband subscriptions are almost nonexistent – on the order of only a few thousand in a country of 1.4+ million. This translates to well under 1% of households having a fixed internet connection worlddata.info data.worldbank.org. Essentially, nearly all internet access is via mobile networks or shared Wi-Fi hotspots, with fixed DSL or fiber connections available only to select businesses and government offices.

The mobile network is the backbone of connectivity for ordinary citizens. Equatorial Guinea has about 846,000 active mobile subscriptions (early 2024 data), which is roughly 49% of the population datareportal.com. Many people still share phones or SIM cards, and a significant portion of the population remains entirely offline, especially in rural areas. Mobile coverage has improved – 3G networks cover most populated areas, and in 2021 GETESA launched 4G/LTE services in the major cities developingtelecoms.com. By 2025, 4G coverage was estimated to reach virtually all urban zones and many rural areas statista.com. However, coverage does not guarantee usage: even if a 4G signal is present, the high cost of data means many users keep their mobile internet use to a bare minimum (or rely on slow 2G/3G if they cannot afford 4G data packs).

Despite the presence of fiber backbones and 4G technology, average internet speeds in Equatorial Guinea remain very slow. Many mobile users experience only a few megabits per second at best, and congestion is common. As one report described in 2019, “with rare exceptions, sluggish speeds and stratospheric bills are the daily lot of people” trying to use the internet for ordinary tasks newscentral.africa. The country’s mean download speeds rank among the lowest in the world. This irony is not lost on observers: Equatorial Guinea’s Gulf of Guinea neighbors like Gabon benefit from the same regional cables yet enjoy far cheaper and faster internet service, underscoring that infrastructure alone is not the issue newscentral.africa newscentral.africa.

Key Internet Providers and Market Structure

Internet services are provided via a small number of telcos under heavy state influence. The key providers include:

• GETESA (Guinea Ecuatorial de Telecomunicaciones, S.A.) – The oldest and largest operator, offering fixed lines, mobile, and internet. The state owns a majority stake (60%) while Orange S.A. (France) holds around 40% en.wikipedia.org. GETESA operates the Orange Equatorial Guinea mobile network and until recently was synonymous with telecom service in the country. It still commands the largest subscriber base and controls international gateways via GITGE.
• Green Com (Muni) – A second mobile operator launched by HiTs Africa around 2011. Marketed under the name Muni, it was intended to break GETESA’s monopoly. HiTs (a Kuwaiti-led firm) held a major stake, and the operation is sometimes referred to as HiTs-Equatorial Guinea en.wikipedia.org. Green Com provides GSM/3G services and has worked with partners (e.g. Israel’s Ceragon Networks for equipment extensia.tech) to roll out a 4G network covering parts of Bioko Island and mainland cities.
• GECOMSA (Guinea Ecuatorial Comunicaciones Sociedad Anónima) – The third licensed operator, established in 2012. GECOMSA is a joint venture between the government (51%) and a Chinese state company (49%) en.wikipedia.org. It was created to introduce more competition and possibly leverage Chinese investment/technology. GECOMSA’s rollout has been limited, but it aims to provide mobile voice and data services as well as possibly fixed wireless access.
• Other ISPs: A few other minor service providers exist, often focusing on niche services like business VSAT or enterprise connectivity. These include the likes of IPX (Internet Protocol X) and some satellite service resellers africa-internet.com. However, their market presence is tiny compared to the main operators. All ISPs ultimately depend on GITGE’s infrastructure (or must get government authorization for independent satellite links).

Notably, GITGE (Gestor de Infraestructuras de Telecomunicaciones de GE) underpins the entire market. GITGE is the state-run company that owns and manages telecom infrastructure – it operates the fiber-optic cables, international gateways, and data centers. It sets wholesale bandwidth tariffs and thus has enormous influence on retail prices newscentral.africa. In practice, GITGE and the government closely control who can provide internet service and at what cost. This quasi-monopoly has been cited as a major barrier to competition. “The sky-high price of the internet is explained by the very strong presence of the state company on the market and lack of competition,” noted Julie Owono of Internet Sans Frontières newscentral.africa. Indeed, all three mobile operators are either state-owned or effectively under state patronage, meaning genuine market competition is minimal. ISPs run by regime insiders have little incentive to drastically cut prices or improve service quality, since they face no new challengers and benefit from the status quo.

The Cost and Affordability of Internet

Equatorial Guinea’s internet is infamous for its prohibitive cost. For years, it ranked as the most expensive place on Earth to buy data. In 2021, the average price of 1 GB of mobile data was about $49.70 techlabari.com connectingafrica.com. (By comparison, 1 GB cost $0.05 in Israel and under $1 in many countries connectingafrica.com.) Even neighboring African countries like Cameroon and Gabon offer mobile data for a tiny fraction of Equatorial Guinea’s prices. This makes internet access a luxury for the majority of citizens.

To put it in perspective, one gigabyte of data (≈1 hour of Netflix) cost around 35 USD in 2019 newscentral.africa. Meanwhile, a typical manual laborer or service worker earned only about 100,000–150,000 XAF per month (roughly $170–$260) newscentral.africa. Thus, a single gigabyte could eat up over 10% of a low-income worker’s monthly pay. “The internet in Equatorial Guinea is still a big-money business, reserved for those who can afford it,” said one local resident bluntly newscentral.africa. Most people cannot afford an always-on data plan. Instead, they might activate a few megabytes of data occasionally, or wait to use one of the rare public Wi-Fi hotspots. For example, in Malabo many people gather each evening along the seafront Paseo Marítimo where the government has installed a “free, public internet” Wi-Fi zone newscentral.africa. There, under streetlights, citizens try to video-call relatives abroad or download school materials – tasks they cannot afford to do over cellular data.

The government has recognized these exorbitant costs as a problem. In April 2022, the Vice President, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, struck an agreement with the operators and regulator to slash telecom tariffs by 50% developingtelecoms.com. This emergency measure came after global attention to Equatorial Guinea’s ranking as #1 in data prices. A study by Cable.co.uk in 2021 had highlighted the country’s $47/GB data as an outlier developingtelecoms.com. The agreed 50% cut (effective May 2022) was meant to be a temporary discount until a new pricing structure was finalized developingtelecoms.com. Operators that refused to comply were threatened with license revocation developingtelecoms.com.

This price reduction did bring some relief – effectively bringing the average cost down to around $20–$25 per GB. Even after halving, however, Equatorial Guinea remained among the most expensive data markets in the world. By mid-2024, reports still listed it in the top two or three globally for mobile data cost techlabari.com connectingafrica.com. Home broadband, where available, is also extremely costly: anecdotal figures suggest an unlimited broadband line can cost on the order of 80,000 XAF (~$130) per month for a basic plan numbeo.com, far out of reach for most households. Consequently, only government offices, large companies, and wealthy individuals maintain private broadband connections.

The digital divide created by these prices is stark. Middle-class and low-income families simply stay offline or ration their internet use. Students often cannot afford data to attend online classes or do research – a fact made painfully clear during the COVID-19 pandemic when schools worldwide shifted to e-learning. (One academic noted that slow, pricey internet was hindering online learning in Equatorial Guinea, as many students couldn’t access materials newscentral.africa.) Businesses likewise struggle: entrepreneurs face high connectivity bills which act as a barrier to innovation and e-commerce worldbank.org. In short, the cost issue has turned the internet into a status symbol in Equatorial Guinea, exacerbating social inequalities. Those with money or connections enjoy broadband at home, while ordinary citizens must scrape together phone credit for a few minutes online.

Connectivity Methods: Fiber, Mobile, and Satellite

Equatorial Guinea relies on a patchwork of technologies to connect its population. Below is a comparison of the major connectivity types available in the country, along key dimensions:

Key Takeaway: Fiber connectivity offers high performance but has virtually no last-mile reach to the populace; mobile networks are widespread but deliver mediocre speeds at world-record costs; satellites could fill the gaps but are tightly controlled by the government. Each technology’s potential to improve Equatorial Guinea’s internet access is curtailed by the political-economic reality on the ground.

Legal and Regulatory Environment

Equatorial Guinea’s legal and regulatory environment for digital access is characterized by heavy government control, censorship, and a lack of transparency. The telecom regulator, Órgano Regulador de las Telecomunicaciones (ORTEL), is ostensibly in charge of overseeing the sector, but in practice it serves at the will of the ruling family diariorombe.es. High-level positions in ORTEL are occupied by relatives of the regime, and the agency’s policies align with the leadership’s interests of security and revenue protection diariorombe.es diariorombe.es. Rather than acting as an independent body to promote competition or consumer rights, ORTEL often functions to enforce censorship and restrict new services that might undermine the state’s tight grip on communications.

Nominally, the constitution provides for freedom of speech and press en.wikipedia.org. However, other laws grant authorities broad powers to regulate media, and those are used to limit open expression en.wikipedia.org. The internet has been no exception. For many years, Equatorial Guinea surprisingly had no explicit law banning online criticism – and early on, the government did little internet filtering simply because usage was so low. But as more citizens have come online (especially the diaspora and opposition voices on social media), the state has taken a more heavy-handed approach.

Censorship and Surveillance: There have been several documented incidents of internet censorship:

• In 2013, ahead of legislative elections and amid calls for pro-democracy protests, the government blocked access to Facebook nationwide accessnow.org. This was one of the first known instances of online censorship in the country, aiming to stifle organizing and critical news.
• In November 2017, during another election period, authorities shut down the internet for at least 5 days accessnow.org. Social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp were inaccessible for months newscentral.africa. This blackout coincided with opposition activities and was widely condemned by press freedom groups.
• Most recently, in July–August 2024, the government imposed a digital siege on the remote island province of Annobón. After local protests against environmental exploitation, internet and cellular networks on Annobón were switched off on July 20, 2024, cutting the island’s 5,000 residents off from the world accessnow.org. Shortly thereafter, in August 2024, the government went further by banning unauthorized satellite communications. It ordered Starlink to suspend service for any unlicensed user terminals in the country accessnow.org. This extreme step revealed the regime’s fear that satellite internet could be used to bypass its controls during unrest.

These actions demonstrate how the government invokes “national security” to justify controlling digital channels. In the case of Starlink, officials argued that unrestricted satellite internet for the public could be used to “destabilize the country,” and thus they allowed it only under strict supervision for oil companies diariorombe.es diariorombe.es. ORTEL explicitly requires that any individual wanting to use Starlink must obtain prior authorization from the Ministry of National Security diariorombe.es – an onerous, likely impossible hurdle for a regular person. Effectively, the regulatory stance is that private citizens cannot be trusted with unmonitored high-speed internet.

Surveillance is also a concern. While concrete details are scarce (the government does not admit to monitoring), opposition activists and journalists assume that communications are monitored and subject to interception. The U.S. State Department reported that journalists in Equatorial Guinea practice self-censorship and face surveillance of their activities en.wikipedia.org. It is telling that ORTEL demanded Starlink’s system be configured in compliance with the “state censorship apparatus” before allowing it to operate diariorombe.es. This suggests the government wants the technical ability to filter or spy on Starlink traffic if it eventually opens to a broader user base.

All internet service providers are expected to cooperate with government requests. Given that major ISPs are state-involved, compliance is the norm. There is no effective legal check on these powers – no independent judiciary to review shutdown orders, for example. Digital rights therefore exist on paper but are not upheld in practice.

On the positive side, the government has at least acknowledged the need for better digital policy in recent years. The National Development Plan 2035 and a strategy called the Digital Agenda for Equatorial Guinea (ADIGE) were adopted, aiming to modernize the legal framework and promote ICT usage worldbank.org. New laws and decrees have been introduced around e-government and digital services worldbank.org. However, many of these policies remain aspirational. The cybersecurity law and data protection regimes are either weak or not enforced, and there is no strong consumer protection for internet users. Moreover, the telecom law of 2016 (which is the latest major telecom act) still gives the state broad leeway to suspend networks for national security.

In summary, Equatorial Guinea’s regulatory environment is defined by centralized control. The ruling authorities maintain a tight leash on internet gateways and have shown willingness to cut off or throttle access during politically sensitive times. This climate deters investment and innovation – for example, foreign tech companies are reluctant to enter such a controlled market, and local startups face uncertainty about whether their online platforms might be blocked if they fall out of favor. Until trust in an independent, pro-innovation regulator is established, the country’s digital growth will remain stunted.

Challenges: Censorship, Rights, and Reliability

The challenges Equatorial Guinea faces in improving internet access go beyond infrastructure – they are deeply entwined with governance issues. Key among these challenges are:

• Censorship and Information Control: As detailed above, the government’s habit of shutting down the internet or blocking services during sensitive periods is a major obstacle. These shutdowns infringe on citizens’ rights to expression and information. For instance, the 2024 Annobón blackout not only silenced protestors, it also prevented residents from reporting on human rights abuses that occurred during the crackdown accessnow.org accessnow.org. By severing communications, authorities can act with impunity. The #KeepItOn coalition and civil society groups have called on Equatorial Guinea to end this practice, noting that internet shutdowns enable human rights violations to go unrecorded accessnow.org accessnow.org. The climate of fear – knowing the internet may vanish at any time – also discourages people from relying on digital services or speaking openly online.
• Digital Rights and Privacy: The notion of digital rights is nascent in Equatorial Guinea. There is little public discourse on privacy, data protection, or online freedom, partly because so few people have had full internet access until recently. Those who do go online often self-censor political content, aware that the regime does not tolerate dissent. The result is a muted local internet sphere: much of the open criticism of the Obiang government by Equatoguineans happens in exile communities, not within the country en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Until citizens can use the internet without fear of retribution, the true potential of digital connectivity – to empower, inform, and connect communities – will remain unrealized.
• Reliability and Quality of Service: Even setting politics aside, basic reliability of internet service in Equatorial Guinea is poor. Frequent electrical power outages affect both mobile towers and home connections. Outside of Malabo and Bata, electricity supply can be intermittent, meaning a village’s cell tower might simply be off for hours. The country’s geography poses challenges as well. The island of Annobón, located hundreds of kilometers from the mainland, has no submarine cable and depends on a satellite feed for telecom – a single point of failure that was exploited to black out the island in 2024 accessnow.org. Physical infrastructure is also vulnerable: there are reports of fiber cuts or technical faults that take a long time to repair due to limited technical expertise locally. Moreover, with bandwidth so expensive, the ISPs often under-provision data capacity, leading to network congestion and dropped connections especially at peak hours. All of this means that even those who can afford to get online face an unreliable experience. As a visiting journalist in Malabo observed, “You really have to be patient to work with the internet in this country”, after struggling to send files over a slow connection newscentral.africa.
• Geographic and Socioeconomic Gaps: There is a digital divide within the country as well – urban vs rural, rich vs poor. Connectivity (however costly) is concentrated in the cities. Rural communities, many of which lack even steady electricity, are effectively offline. The majority of Equatorial Guinea’s population lives in urban areas (around 75% urbanization) datareportal.com, but the remaining quarter in rural areas have almost no access. This exacerbates regional inequalities. On the socioeconomic side, wealthier citizens can buy unlimited data packages or multiple SIM cards to stay connected, whereas poorer citizens might only sporadically borrow a connection. Gender disparities also exist: global studies suggest that in low-access countries, women are less likely to use the internet than men, due to income gaps and social norms. Although specific data for Equatorial Guinea is scarce, one can infer a similar trend given the low overall usage.

In summary, the struggle for internet access in Equatorial Guinea is not merely about laying fiber or erecting cell towers. It’s fundamentally about an environment where the free flow of information is seen as a threat by those in power. Until censorship is curtailed and users’ rights are respected, any technical progress will have limited effect. And conversely, the lack of robust connectivity itself impedes social progress – without reliable internet, it is harder for citizens to organize, to learn, to innovate, or to hold their government accountable. This vicious cycle of digital repression and under-development is the core challenge the country must overcome to join the global digital society.

International Partnerships and Efforts to Improve Access

International partners have played a role, both positive and negative, in Equatorial Guinea’s digital journey. On one hand, foreign investment and technology have been crucial in building infrastructure; on the other hand, international pressure has occasionally been needed to push for reforms.

Submarine Cables and Infrastructure: The ACE cable connection in 2012 was part of a multi-country consortium led by France’s Orange – a clear example of international partnership. Equatorial Guinea’s membership in ACE was financed and technically supported by global telecom companies integrallc.com. Similarly, Chinese firms have been involved in domestic telecom developments: Huawei reportedly planned a WiMAX broadband project for Malabo in 2009 integrallc.com, and likely supplied a lot of the 3G/4G network equipment in use (Huawei and ZTE are common providers in Central Africa). The formation of GECOMSA with a Chinese state company means China has a stake in expanding services (possibly via the SAIL cable, a Cameroon-Brazil link that Chinese partners built, which could be leveraged to improve connectivity in the region). These partnerships have given Equatorial Guinea the technical means for good internet – the country is not lacking in high-capacity links, thanks to such international collaborations.

Aid and Development Programs: Equatorial Guinea, being a high-income (oil-rich) country, has not been a major recipient of aid for basic infrastructure. However, it did participate in the World Bank’s Central African Backbone (CAB) program in the late 2000s. In 2009, the World Bank approved funding to strengthen regional broadband backbones in Central Africa, including up to $215 million that partly targeted Equatorial Guinea integrallc.com. The goal was to reduce the cost of ICT services in the region. It’s unclear how much of that money Equatorial Guinea ultimately utilized, but the intent was to assist with things like the national fiber network and cross-border links.

More recently, the World Bank has engaged with the country on strategic planning. In June 2024, the Equatorial Guinea Digital Economy Country Diagnostic was published jointly by the World Bank and the government worldbank.org. This comprehensive report assessed challenges across digital infrastructure, platforms, skills, etc., and provided a roadmap of recommendations. Key recommendations included applying cost-oriented pricing on wholesale fiber capacity (to force GITGE to lower its prices), improving telecom regulation to encourage competition, and investing in digital skills and e-government worldbank.org. The fact that the government cooperated in this study and allowed it to be published suggests a willingness – at least on paper – to acknowledge the issues. The World Bank’s involvement can be seen as a constructive partnership aiming to “bridge the gaps” for a safe and inclusive digital transformation worldbank.org. However, implementing those recommendations will require political will that only the Equatoguinean leadership can provide.

Private Sector and Novel Technologies: The arrival of Starlink has been a recent test of international vs. local interests. Starlink (by SpaceX, a U.S. company) began rolling out in Africa in 2023. By mid-2023, it reportedly received a provisional one-year license from ORTEL to operate in Equatorial Guinea on a limited basis linkedin.com. The catch was that ORTEL, under direction of Vice President “Teodorín” Obiang, restricted Starlink’s customer base to just oil companies and “strategic” infrastructures diariorombe.es diariorombe.es. Essentially, the government allowed this foreign service in but only for select users – and with draconian fees ensuring they capture revenue from it. When Starlink initially started popping up (likely unlicensed units brought in by individuals or companies), the government swiftly ordered those shut down until proper authorization was in place accessnow.org. This friction highlights the push-pull of international tech in Equatorial Guinea: the technology exists to leapfrog connectivity (Starlink could instantly connect remote communities), but the regime fears losing control. For now, Starlink’s impact is limited to a few corporate compounds. International pressure could build for more open access – especially as neighboring countries embrace Starlink to connect schools and clinics – but Equatorial Guinea’s stance will depend on internal politics.

Advocacy and NGOs: A number of international non-governmental organizations have focused on Equatorial Guinea’s digital rights. Groups like Access Now, Internet Without Borders, and Reporters Without Borders have issued statements and reports calling out the high costs and censorship. For example, Access Now’s #KeepItOn campaign spotlighted the 2024 Annobón shutdown and urged the government to restore connectivity and refrain from using internet blackouts as a tool accessnow.org accessnow.org. These organizations, while lacking direct leverage, do bring global attention to the issue and may dissuade telecom companies from abetting government censorship. There is also a small but vocal Equatoguinean tech community in the diaspora (notably in Spain and the US) who campaign on social media for better internet at home. Internationally, Equatorial Guinea has been somewhat shamed by rankings (like the highest-cost data index) and this reputational aspect likely contributed to the leadership’s decision to reduce prices in 2022 developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com. Continued international scrutiny can thus play a role in nudging the government toward positive changes, even if slowly.

In summary, the international dimension of Equatorial Guinea’s internet saga is a mix of technology transfer and policy pressure. Global telecom projects have given the country the wires and signals it needs, and global voices are calling for those to be utilized for the public good. Ultimately, however, it will require the domestic political will to allow those international resources (be it a submarine cable or a satellite constellation) to truly benefit the Equatoguinean people.

Social and Economic Impact of Limited Internet

The social and economic consequences of Equatorial Guinea’s poor internet access are profound. In today’s world, connectivity is closely linked to development – and Equatorial Guinea illustrates how a lack of connectivity can hinder progress despite wealth in other areas.

Economic Diversification and Opportunity: Equatorial Guinea’s economy has been overwhelmingly dependent on oil & gas for decades. There is now a recognized need to diversify to sustain growth. Digital development could catalyze new sectors – for instance, IT services, online commerce, digital finance, and tech start-ups. However, the limited internet reach stifles these possibilities. It’s hard to foster a startup culture or digital entrepreneurship when limited internet access, high costs, and a shortage of tech skills form high barriers to entry worldbank.org. The World Bank’s diagnostic noted that digital businesses in Equatorial Guinea are still “nascent” and face hurdles like poor connectivity, lack of financing, and weak regulatory support worldbank.org. For example, mobile money services (ubiquitous in Kenya or Ghana) have barely started in Equatorial Guinea – in part because patchy internet and regulatory bottlenecks impede their rollout worldbank.org. Banks have been slow to implement online banking or mobile payment platforms, leaving a largely cash-based economy. This keeps transaction costs high and financial inclusion low. If internet were more widespread and affordable, we’d likely see more innovation in these areas, potentially creating jobs beyond the oil sector.

Education and Human Capital: The impact on education is alarming. Schools and universities worldwide increasingly rely on the internet for research, remote learning, and accessing knowledge resources. In Equatorial Guinea, students and teachers struggle to use these tools. Universities cannot easily conduct online classes or access international academic journals due to connectivity issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while other countries shifted to online learning, Equatorial Guinea’s digital infrastructure was inadequate for broad e-learning – many students simply had to pause studies or use analog methods, setting them back relative to peers elsewhere datareportal.com. Even in normal times, the lack of reliable internet means students have less exposure to information. A simple act like watching an educational YouTube lecture or participating in an online course is often out of reach. This limits language learning, STEM education, and general digital literacy. Only a small elite (who can afford home connections or to study abroad) gain the ICT skills needed in the modern economy. Thus, the digital divide today can translate into a skills divide tomorrow, perpetuating inequality.

Social Connectivity and Diaspora: Equatorial Guinea has a large diaspora community, especially in Spain (the former colonial power). For families split across continents, the internet is a lifeline to stay in touch. But expensive and erratic networks strain these ties. Many citizens rely on WhatsApp voice notes or brief chats when they can find Wi-Fi, rather than the seamless video calls that people elsewhere take for granted. Social media usage in Equatorial Guinea is quite low – only about 7–10% of the population is on platforms like Facebook as of 2024 datareportal.com datareportal.com. This is partially a reflection of low internet penetration, but also of self-censorship and low utility. Those who are online often stick to closed messaging groups. The wider community discussion, news sharing, and public engagement that social platforms enable in other countries is muted. This has implications for social cohesion and civic life. Young people, for instance, have fewer chances to engage with global trends or online education, which can contribute to feelings of isolation or being left behind.

On the positive side, the small segment of society that is connected has found ways to leverage it. WhatsApp is popular for business communications (small entrepreneurs advertising goods or coordinating with suppliers), and Facebook has some use for diaspora news exchange. The government itself has tried to use digital tools for outreach – President Obiang’s regime launched official websites and occasionally engages in social media campaigns to improve its international image. However, without mass internet access, internal impact is limited.

Public Services and Governance: Limited internet access also affects governance and public services. The government’s Digital Agenda includes goals like digitizing administrative procedures worldbank.org. Some progress has been made – for example, a digital civil registry pilot was launched in 2018 worldbank.org. But if citizens cannot reliably get online, e-government services have low uptake. Something as simple as renewing an ID or passport online, checking exam results, or filing taxes electronically becomes an exercise in frustration if the network is down or the user lacks data. Consequently, many government services still require in-person visits and paperwork, with the inefficiency that entails. Furthermore, the lack of independent online media means citizens rely on state-controlled TV/radio for news, limiting transparency.

Health and Welfare: In the health sector, internet connectivity can enable telemedicine, health information systems, and quicker responses to crises. Equatorial Guinea’s health system could benefit from remote consultations or better epidemiological data collection, but those require stable networks. During COVID-19, for example, spreading public health messaging and countering misinformation is much harder in a low-connectivity environment. NGOs and international agencies trying to operate in the country also face challenges communicating and coordinating due to poor internet, potentially hampering aid delivery or development projects.

In short, Equatorial Guinea’s sparse internet access acts as a brake on nearly every aspect of modern life: from economic diversification and entrepreneurship to education, healthcare, and civic engagement. It reinforces existing inequalities – those who are wealthy or in cities benefit from such connectivity as exists, while the rural poor remain digitally (and thus economically and socially) marginalized. The country risks falling further behind its peers if it cannot improve digital inclusion. In today’s global economy, being disconnected is a huge lost opportunity: Equatorial Guinea’s talented youth cannot fully participate in online jobs or learning; its businesses cannot easily reach regional or global markets; and its society cannot reap the cultural and informational riches the internet offers. This social and economic toll is the real cost of the “digital desert.”

Future Outlook and Plans for Improvement

Looking ahead, can Equatorial Guinea shed its reputation as a digital desert? There are some glimmers of progress and plans on the horizon, but realizing them will require significant changes.

The government’s Digital Agenda for Equatorial Guinea (ADIGE) lays out an official vision. Its goals – universal telecom access, e-government, ICT industry support, and citizen digital empowerment – are laudable worldbank.org. If genuinely pursued, these would transform the connectivity landscape. For instance, universalization of access implies extending network coverage to 100% of the population, possibly through rural mobile sites or satellite solutions. There is talk of bridging the island-mainland divide (perhaps by finally laying a submarine fiber cable to Annobón, which would be a game-changer for that isolated province) worldbank.org. The National Development Plan 2035 also recognizes technology and innovation as cross-cutting enablers for diversification worldbank.org. These strategic documents show that, on paper, the leadership understands the importance of digital development.

Practical steps are slowly being taken:

• The 50% data price reduction in 2022, while not sufficient, demonstrated that the government is responsive to the issue when pushed developingtelecoms.com. Vice President Mangue framed it as a first step toward permanently cheaper internet. In the future, we may see further price regulatory measures – for example, enforcing wholesale price caps on bandwidth (as the World Bank recommended) worldbank.org. If ORTEL truly implements cost-oriented pricing via GITGE, retail prices could drop closer to regional norms, greatly improving affordability.
• There are plans to upgrade infrastructure further. In 2023, GETESA and the other operators were reportedly investing in expanding 4G coverage, and even discussing 5G in the long term. While 5G is likely many years away (given 4G just launched in 2021), the mere consideration indicates ambition to keep up with technology. Ensuring existing 4G reaches its potential – through more base stations, better backhaul, etc. – is a nearer-term priority. We might see international partners (like Huawei or Ericsson) contracted to build out this capacity. The government has also mentioned building tech hubs and improving internet exchange points to keep local traffic domestic, which could improve speeds.
• International connectivity could improve further if Equatorial Guinea leverages its strategic location. The country is positioned between Cameroon and Gabon, both of which are connected to multiple cables. There’s potential for EG to link into newer cable systems (for example, Cameroon’s SAIL cable or Google’s Equiano cable along the West African coast, if a branch can be extended). More redundancy and capacity would put downward pressure on wholesale costs – though again, only if passed on to consumers.
• Opening the market is another possibility. True liberalization – allowing a foreign telecom operator or an independent ISP to enter – could spur competition that benefits users. In some African countries, the entry of a new operator (like a Celtel/Airtel or MTN) broke monopolies and led to price wars that made internet affordable. Equatorial Guinea has been resistant to this (preferring companies controlled by the ruling family), but if the economic need for diversification becomes dire, the regime might allow, say, a major international operator to buy into one of the existing companies or start a new service. Even the licensing of Starlink, if eventually made less restrictive, is a form of opening the market to alternative providers. The fact that Starlink was given any license at all (even if limited) suggests that technological inevitability may force the government’s hand – they can delay but not entirely block new modes of connectivity forever.

Challenges to progress: Of course, none of these improvements are guaranteed. The fundamental political calculus – control over information – hasn’t changed. If anything, increased connectivity without reform could lead to more confrontations (as when the internet was shut off to quell protests). The ruling establishment may attempt a delicate balance: expand internet access enough to reap economic benefits, but not so much that it threatens their authority. This could mean continued surveillance and selective censorship even as networks grow. The risk is that heavy-handed control could nullify many of the benefits of expansion (people won’t use a faster internet if key apps are blocked or if they fear punishment for what they say).

Another looming factor is the global trend toward connectivity. By 2025, most of Africa will be significantly more connected (many countries targeting 70-90% internet penetration, lots of affordable smartphones, etc.). Equatorial Guinea will increasingly stand out if it does not catch up. The pressure of not being left behind – economically and reputationally – might prod the government into more earnest reforms. For instance, if neighbors like Gabon implement nationwide cheap internet (through initiatives like community Wi-Fi or cheaper data from new cables), Equatoguinean citizens and businesses will demand the same to stay competitive. Regional bodies like the African Union (through its Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa) also emphasize lowering data costs and extending broadband to all. Equatorial Guinea has signed onto continental goals such as “Digital 2030”, so it may feel obliged to show progress on those commitments.

Optimistic signs: The presence of youth who are tech-savvy and hungry for change is an internal driver. Over half the population is under 25 datareportal.com datareportal.com. Many of these young people have tasted the online world via small glimpses – a bit of social media, games, or communication. They represent a constituency that will increasingly push for better internet. Already, there are tiny start-up scenes (for example, app developers or digital creatives in Malabo) and they often collaborate with international peers. As these communities grow, they can advocate from within for improvements.

In conclusion, the future of internet access in Equatorial Guinea is at a crossroads. The ingredients for a digital leap are there – unused fiber capacity, satellite options, a strategic plan, and examples to emulate. If the country’s leadership decides that the benefits (economic growth, innovation, public satisfaction) outweigh the risks of loosening control, we could see a transformation. That would mean affordable data for the masses, thriving online businesses, and a more informed citizenry. If not, Equatorial Guinea could remain a cautionary tale of missed potential: a nation that struck oil riches but left its people in the dark in the information age. The coming years will be critical, as the global digital revolution waits for no one. For Equatorial Guinea, embracing it fully is perhaps the next great test on its path from isolation toward inclusion in the connected world.

Sources:

• NewsCentral (2019). “High costs and slow speed mar Equatorial Guinea’s dreams for internet access.” newscentral.africa newscentral.africa newscentral.africa newscentral.africa
• Developing Telecoms (2022). “Equatorial Guinea cuts tariff prices by half.” developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com
• Diario Rombe (2024). “Starlink in Equatorial Guinea: Teodorín limits access to the oil sector.” diariorombe.es diariorombe.es
• Access Now (2024). “#KeepItOn: Equatorial Guinea must end internet shutdown in Annobón.” accessnow.org accessnow.org
• World Bank (2024). Equatorial Guinea Digital Economy Diagnostic – Bridging the Gaps. worldbank.org worldbank.org
• WorldData (2025). Telecommunication in Equatorial Guinea – Statistics. worlddata.info worlddata.info
• Connecting Africa (2021). “Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing: Equatorial Guinea most expensive.” connectingafrica.com connectingafrica.com
• Wikipedia (2021). “Telecommunications in Equatorial Guinea.” en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org