Ukraine’s approach to internet governance is shaped by its commitment to integrating with European standards, promoting digital rights, and ensuring cybersecurity. The country has been working to align its policies with the European Union’s digital regulations, particularly after the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in 2014. This alignment has driven efforts to harmonise Ukrainian legislation with EU directives on data protection, privacy, and digital services.
Countries
Venezuela
Beyond large cities, Venezuela faces stark digital gaps. Rural areas often lack reliable internet, with speeds frequently below 5 Mbps. State-owned CANTV remains the main ISP in many regions, though private companies like Fibex Telecom and IP Net are slowly expanding coverage. Frequent electricity blackouts, especially outside Caracas, severely affect connectivity. Despite this, community Wi-Fi hotspots, called ‘puntos digitales,’ have emerged in some neighbourhoods, offering shared internet access to residents who cannot afford home connections.
Alongside dominant platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram, TikTok has seen fast growth, particularly among younger users. Many small businesses and food vendors operate exclusively through Instagram and WhatsApp for sales and customer service. Online food delivery services like Yummy (Venezuela’s largest delivery app) have expanded rapidly, offering deliveries in Caracas and other major cities. Additionally, freelancers and remote workers use digital job platforms such as Workana and Freelancer.com to offer services like graphic design, coding, and digital marketing.
Digital payment methods are now essential in Venezuela’s economy. Apps like PagoFlash and VenezuelaPay allow QR code-based payments in shops and markets. Cryptocurrency ATMs—though limited—exist in cities like Caracas, reflecting the country’s strong crypto adoption. Some universities, such as the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), have launched tech incubators focused on digital solutions for education and fintech. Digital tools are also increasingly used in health services, with telemedicine platforms like Doctores24 offering online medical consultations across the country.
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North Macedonia
North Macedonia is a country in Southeast Europe. It is a landlocked country bordering Serbian disputed territory Kosovo to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, and Albania to the west. It constitutes approximately the northern third of the larger geographical region of Macedonia. Skopje, the capital and largest city, is home to a quarter of the country’s 1.83 million people.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is a country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia (a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia). Its capital, located along its southeastern coast, is Port Moresby. The country is the world’s third largest island country, with an area of 462,840 km2 (178,700 sq mi).
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the northwest, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Managua is the country’s capital and largest city. As of 2015, it was estimated to be the second-largest city in Central America.
Turkmenistan
Internet penetration in Turkmenistan is one of the lowest in the world. The majority of the population lacks regular access to the internet, and broadband services are costly, further limiting access to information. The government controls all internet service providers (ISPs) in the country, ensuring that all online activities are closely monitored. There is no space for private ISPs or independent telecom companies to operate, further reinforcing the state’s control over the flow of information.
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Panama
Panama’s strategic position between North and South America, with access to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, has established it as a crucial hub for submarine cable systems. The Pacific Caribbean Cable System (PCCS) is a 6,000 km submarine cable connecting Ecuador, Panama, Colombia, Aruba, Curaçao, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States. Operational since July 2015. The Americas Region Caribbean Optical-ring System (ARCOS-1) is an 8,700 km submarine cable system connecting 24 landing points across 15 countries, including the United States, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, among others. Owned by Google, the Curie submarine cable connects the United States to Chile and Panama. Commissioned in 2018 and completed in 2019, The PAN-AM (Pan-American) cable system is a submarine telecommunications cable connecting the west coast of South America and the Caribbean, crossing the continent through Panama.
Announced in November 2024, the MANTA submarine cable system is a collaboration between Liberty Networks and Gold Data. Expected to be operational by 2027, it will offer high-capacity, low-latency routes connecting Panama, Mexico, Colombia, and the United States. MANTA will be the first international submarine cable in the Gulf of Mexico, providing new low-latency routes to interconnect major data centers in Panama City, Mexico City, Querétaro, and Bogotá with the United State
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Niger
Niger is actively enhancing its digital infrastructure to promote socioeconomic development and bridge the digital divide. The Smart Villages Initiative, launched in 2019, aims to provide connectivity to all 2,175 villages, focusing on establishing reliable internet access, installing digital support networks like telecentres and medical diagnostic facilities, and supporting local innovation ecosystems. As of 2022, 15 villages were connected via satellite, with plans to connect more.
The Niger 2.0 Strategy is a comprehensive plan that includes digitizing government services for better accessibility, creating hubs for technological advancement, and encouraging digital tool adoption among citizens. These efforts aim to position Niger as a regional leader in digital innovation.
International support has been instrumental in these efforts. In July 2020, the World Bank approved a $100 million credit and grant to help Niger develop digital infrastructure, expand mobile and broadband services in rural areas, and improve access to digital financial services in underserved regions.
Despite progress, challenges persist. As of 2024, only 16% of the population had internet access. High costs of devices and data services, along with low digital literacy rates, hinder widespread adoption.
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Mozambique
Mozambique’s digital landscape is shaped by limited internet access, high costs, and uneven infrastructure. Mobile networks are the primary means of connectivity, with fixed-line broadband largely unavailable. As of 2025, about 20% of the population is online, with strong urban-rural disparities. While cities like Maputo benefit from 4G and limited 5G coverage, many rural areas lack even basic mobile broadband.
Affordability is a major barrier, with the cost of data and devices high relative to income. Low digital literacy and limited access to electricity further constrain internet use, particularly in rural and low-income communities. Government initiatives, supported by the World Bank and others, aim to expand connectivity through programs like digital plazas and rural infrastructure projects. Submarine cables and new mobile towers are improving capacity, and satellite services like Starlink now offer alternatives in remote regions.
Regulation is overseen by the National Communications Institute, and a National Cybersecurity Strategy is in place. However, data protection remains fragmented, and internet freedom has come under pressure following politically motivated shutdowns. Compared to regional peers, Mozambique lags in digital access, speed, and affordability, but ongoing investments and reforms are slowly narrowing the gap.
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Peru
Peru ranks among the top five countries in Latin America for digital government foundational reforms, according to the 2023 OECD/IDB Digital Government Index—positioned alongside Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil, and Mexico. On connectivity and digital inclusion, Peru had an internet penetration rate of 79.5% at the start of 2025, placing it above the average for many regional peers. In addition, Peru hosts 13 internet exchange points and 15 data centers, allowing 68% of the top 1,000 visited websites to be delivered via local servers or caches—exceeding the Americas benchmark of 50%. Mobile broadband connections exceed 115% of the population, with over 92% on 3G/4G/5G networks.
Peru shows particular strength in digital tax administration and GovTech platforms, earning high regional ratings for the digitisation of central tax revenue systems and deployment of national identity, talent, and SME platforms. Combined with a strong surge in academic and private sector AI research output and structured regulatory reforms in line with global norms, Peru is positioning itself as a standout among upper‑middle‑income nations in Latin America’s digital ecosystem.