Guinea’s connectivity stack is increasingly ‘sovereign by design.’ International capacity comes via the ACE submarine cable landing at Kipé (Conakry), operated nationally by GUILAB, while the state backbone company SOGEB runs the national fibre network and offers transport and colocation, together providing the primary routes from users to upstream transit. A domestic Internet exchange (IXP-GUINÉE) in Conakry helps keep traffic on-net, lowering latency and costs compared with pure off-net transit.
Policy is anchored in the government’s Digital State and Economy Strategy 2023–2027, with last-mile expansion and inclusion programmes financed through ANSUTEN (the universal-service agency). On mobile evolution, the regulator ARPT has opened a national 5G consultation, a precursor to spectrum planning and awards, while the country continues to harden its cyber posture through ANSSI initiatives like the DJAMA SUTURA incident-reporting platform (hotline 1017).
Naming and hosting capabilities are being localised as well: the .gn country domain is managed domestically (ANDE as technical contact, NIC.GN as admin), and government/industry communications highlight ongoing data-centre and service consolidation in Conakry. In the regional context, Guinea’s combination of an ACE landing, a state-run national backbone, and an operational IXP puts it among West Africa’s smaller markets that are building a complete, localised internet stack rather than relying solely on foreign transit paths.
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Switzerland is renowned for its sophisticated and inclusive approach to governance. The country’s framework is built upon democratic principles that prioritise multistakeholder participation, transparency, and protection of fundamental rights. This approach also extends to the governance of the internet; at a national level, Switzerland follows these three principles when developing and implementing governance frameworks that relate to the internet; at an international level, the country is a strong promoter of Internet governance approaches that are balanced, inclusive, and respect the diverse interests of all stakeholders involved.
Switzerland ensures that various stakeholders, including government bodies, private sector entities, civil society organisations, academic institutions, and technical communities, are involved in the decision-making processes. This inclusive approach fosters diverse perspectives and solutions. Regular dialogues and consultations are held among stakeholders to address internet-related challenges, ensuring that policies are well-rounded and representative of different interests.
Switzerland promotes transparency by keeping stakeholders informed about the processes, decisions, and implementations of internet policies. Public consultations and forums are frequently organised to discuss policy proposals and their implications; the Swiss Internet Governance Forum is one example.
The country places a strong emphasis on protecting fundamental rights, including data protection and freedom of expression. Switzerland has stringent data protection laws, including the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), which regulates the processing of personal data and ensures privacy rights of individuals. Policies and regulations are designed to protect freedom of expression online while balancing the need to prevent misuse of the internet for harmful activities.
Initiatives are in place to ensure that all citizens, regardless of socioeconomic status, have access to digital technologies and the internet. Programmes to enhance digital literacy and provide affordable internet access are prioritised. Efforts are made to ensure that digital services are accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring inclusivity in the digital space.
Switzerland provides a supportive environment for startups and tech companies through funding, tax incentives, and a robust legal framework that encourages innovation. Investments in research and development are made to keep pace with technological advancements and to promote the development of cutting-edge digital solutions.
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Swiss international connectivity
Switzerland is connected to neighbouring countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and Austria through high-capacity terrestrial fibre optic cables. These cables facilitate cross-border data exchange and connect Switzerland to major European internet hubs. Switzerland is in the centre of the so-called ‘communication banana’, from Northern Italy to Amsterdam and London via Frankfurt, the main European digital hub (see: bellow).
While Switzerland itself does not have direct undersea cable landings due to its landlocked geography, it benefits from undersea cables that land in neighbouring countries. For example, France and Italy have several undersea cable landings that connect to other continents, providing indirect access to Swiss networks.
Canada’s digital democracy is underpinned by robust tools for citizen engagement and transparency. One notable example is MyDemocracy.ca, an interactive consultation platform that educates Canadians on democratic values by situating their views on electoral reform within five archetypes—fostering public literacy and inclusive dialogue beyond traditional town halls. Concurrently, Canada ranks 8th globally in UN e‑participation, reflecting its varied use of online consultations, polls, and forums across federal and municipal levels.
At the civic-tech front, initiatives like IserveU in Yellowknife and PlaceSpeak in Vancouver engage citizens at the grassroots, enabling direct voting and geo-authenticated input for local decisions. These platforms exemplify a shift toward real-time, localized digital democracy tools, reinforcing public involvement and accountability. The federal government’s civic-tech pilot report highlights successful partnerships like Vaccine Hunters Canada and River Watch Mobile, showcasing practical volunteer-built tools that improve service delivery.
However, this digital expansion brings new challenges. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security warns of cyber threats targeting democratic systems, including state-sponsored influence operations and deepfake content ahead of elections. In response, federal initiatives such as the Declaration on Electoral Integrity Online commit to safeguarding discourse on social media and other platforms. Together, these efforts highlight Canada’s balanced digital democracy: innovative, participatory, and increasingly resilient against modern threats.
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Serbia is a candidate country for the European Union membership and has been pursuing economic and political reforms to align with the EU standards and values. Serbia has a diverse and dynamic digital landscape, with a growing ICT sector, a vibrant start-up scene, and a strong commitment to developing AI for social and economic benefits.
Serbia participates in the Berlin process for the Western Balkans, highlighting digital connectivity as one of the areas of cooperation under the ‘connectivity agenda.’ One key initiative from the perspective of IG within the Berlin process is the establishment of the EU’s Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans, focused on promoting digital connectivity and infrastructure development in the region, including expanding broadband access, improving digital literacy, and supporting digital entrepreneurship and innovation. In addition, the initiative has supported the establishment of a regional cybersecurity platform to enhance cooperation on cybersecurity issues and promote the development of cyber resilience in the WB. Other digital aspects of the Berlin Process include support for developing e-government and digital public services, and efforts to promote digital skills development and training.
Serbian stakeholders are active participants in various internet governance forums and initiatives at the regional and global levels. Serbian stakeholders participate in the annual South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance (SEE+) and Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) events, which bring together stakeholders from the region to discuss digital policy-related issues and challenges. At the global level, Serbia is a member of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). Serbia also has a national internet governance initiative called Serbian IGF, which was established as a bottom-up, multistakeholder platform for discussing internet-related public policy issues in Serbia.
The first national IGF Serbia was held in May 2022 in Belgrade. However, this is not the first time that a multistakeholder dialogue on IG issues has occurred in Serbia. The first meeting to focus on IG issues took place in 2009 in the form of panel debates. Between 2012 and 2014, an annual event, Serbian Internet Dialogue, was also held.
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Poland’s infrastructure is unusually robust for Central and Eastern Europe, as it hosts two hyperscale cloud regions: Google Cloud Warsaw (opened in 2021) and Microsoft Azure Poland Central (launched in 2023), which provide in-country data residency and low-latency access for both the public and private sectors. Poland also ranks high on local interconnection: the Internet Society counts 15 active IXPs with 883 members as of November 2025, supporting resilient, locally routed traffic.
In terms of public services, Poland has a statutory mobile-ID app (mObywatel) and is rolling out mandatory e-invoicing (KSeF), scheduled for implementation from February to April 2026. These initiatives, when combined, will facilitate large-scale digital interactions among citizens, businesses, and the state. At the EU level, the Digital Decade review notes strong fixed connectivity but urges faster business adoption of advanced technologies, providing context for current investments and reforms.
In commerce, BLIK remains a regional outlier in terms of scale, with 2024 witnessing over 2.4 billion transactions and PLN 347.3 billion in value, underscoring the high online payment penetration across Polish checkouts. These usage patterns sit atop a dual cloud-region footprint and a dense IXP fabric, features that, taken together, place Poland among the CEE’s most developed digital markets in terms of infrastructure, public digital services, and retail payments.
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Strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, Greece serves as a pivotal hub for submarine cable systems that bolster international connectivity. Notable projects include the BlueMed cable system, which connects Italy with France, Greece, and several Mediterranean countries, with a landing station in Chania, Crete. Additionally, the India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) cable, landed by Vodafone Greece in Crete, is set to link Mumbai to Europe upon its completion in 2025. Furthermore, the Great Sea Interconnector, a high-voltage submarine power cable project, aims to connect the electricity grids of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, enhancing regional energy security.
In the realm of AI, Greece has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering innovation and integrating AI across various sectors. In December 2024, the government unveiled a comprehensive National AI Strategy, emphasising principles such as human dignity, transparency, and multilateral cooperation. This strategy outlines six flagship projects designed to position Greece as a leader in AI development and application. To guide these efforts, the National High-Level Advisory Committee for Artificial Intelligence was established, comprising experts like Professor Constantinos Daskalakis from MIT, who serves as the committee’s chair. The committee focuses on leveraging AI for economic growth, social welfare, and national security, with applications spanning public administration, education, healthcare, and defense.
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Finland is one of Europe’s top performers on core digital infrastructure. Fixed high-speed broadband and widespread 5G deployment are supported by a national Digital Infrastructure Strategy 2025, which aims to ensure that by 2025, all households will have access to at least 100 Mbps, with a fibre-based roll-out and scale-up to gigabit speeds where possible. At the same time, Finland is linked internationally via high-capacity submarine cables, most notably C‑Lion1, the first direct cable between Finland and continental Europe, providing a 1173 km low-latency route to Germany.
In terms of policy and governance, Finland has a coherent and long-term digital outlook. The Digital Compass, adopted in 2022, outlines national goals through 2030, focusing on broadening digital skills, ensuring secure and sustainable infrastructure, and promoting data-driven business and public service transformation. Meanwhile, its Cyber Security Strategy 2024–2035 provides a comprehensive framework for cyber resilience, securing critical infrastructure and integrating cybersecurity into the national security model.
When about capability and use, Finland has attracted major cloud and data-centre investments: global providers, citing clean energy, stable infrastructure, favourable climate and connectivity, have deployed significant facilities there. The combination of strong domestic infrastructure, international connectivity, and supportive policy makes Finland a leading digital-ready country in the Nordic region.
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Sweden is a leader in the adoption and utilisation of digital technologies across businesses and among individuals. The country boasts a well-developed digital infrastructure and a high rate of internet usage. This robust digital foundation has facilitated the digitalisation of numerous public services, with 87% of government services now accessible online. This makes Sweden one of the most advanced countries in Europe in terms of online and mobile accessibility for e-government services.
The Swedish government has established a robust regulatory framework for internet governance. This framework includes laws and regulations that ensure the protection of user data, promote net neutrality, and safeguard freedom of expression online. The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) is the primary regulatory body overseeing electronic communications and postal services in the country.
Sweden boasts one of the most advanced internet infrastructures in the world, with widespread high-speed broadband access. The government has invested heavily in digital infrastructure, ensuring that even remote and rural areas have reliable internet connectivity. This extensive network supports the high rate of internet usage among Swedish citizens and businesses.
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