São Tomé and Príncipe, an archipelago in the Gulf of Guinea, has been actively advancing its digital landscape to foster economic growth and improve public services. As of January 2024, the country reported an internet penetration rate of 57%, with approximately 133,400 users, and about 63,100 social media users, accounting for 26.9% of the population.
The government has initiated the ‘Digital São Tomé and Príncipe Project,’ supported by the World Bank, aiming to enhance telecommunications services and strengthen data governance. Additionally, the ‘National Strategy for Digital Governance’ seeks to align public policies across sectors to improve digital public services. Furthermore, the government is formulating a National Cybersecurity Strategy and Action Plan to safeguard its digital infrastructure and data.
In education, partnerships with organisations like UNICEF have led to the development of digital learning platforms, such as the ‘Learning Passport,’ integrating technology into classrooms and promoting digital literacy among students.
To bolster connectivity, the country connected to the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable in 2012, significantly enhancing internet access and reducing costs.
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Egypt’s digital profile reflects rapid transformation driven by infrastructure investment, regulatory modernisation, and strategic regional positioning. The country hosts over 10 submarine cable landing stations and carries nearly 30% of global internet traffic through its Mediterranean-Red Sea corridor, making it one of the most critical internet transit hubs worldwide. With 5G rollout underway and broadband speed improvements, the ICT sector grew by 14.4% in 2023–24, contributing over 5% to GDP—placing Egypt among the fastest-growing digital economies in Africa and the Arab world.
Digital transformation is anchored in the ‘Digital Egypt’ initiative and ICT 2030 strategy, which have connected more than 33,000 public institutions and digitised essential services through a national e‑government platform. The country has enacted comprehensive legislation, including the Personal Data Protection Law (2020) and the Cybercrime Law (2018), aligning with global norms. Notably, Egypt has become a leader in fintech growth in emerging markets, with services like InstaPay and Meeza accelerating financial inclusion and mobile wallet adoption across socioeconomic segments.
Emerging technologies are gaining traction through national AI and blockchain strategies, deep‑tech venture studios, and talent pipelines like the Digital Egypt Builders program. Egypt ranks among global leaders in AI workforce reskilling, with 85% of employers upskilling in generative AI and automation. With rising tech startup activity, expanding digital infrastructure, and a strong regional role in data transit, Egypt is positioning itself as a digital innovation hub for Africa and the Middle East.
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Ecuador’s digital landscape is marked by steady growth, regional leadership in ethics-driven innovation, and ongoing efforts to close structural gaps in connectivity and capacity. The country has made significant strides in expanding its digital infrastructure, with major investments in submarine cable systems such as the Mistral, PCCS, and the upcoming CSN-1, enhancing international bandwidth and regional integration. Domestically, initiatives under the National Broadband Plan aim to improve fixed and mobile access, especially in underserved rural areas, while the presence of IXPs and data centers continues to strengthen Ecuador’s internet resilience. Despite logistical and postal delivery challenges, the e-commerce sector has grown rapidly, projected to reach nearly US $3.9 billion by 2025, with a strong mobile-first consumer base and increasing diversification of product categories.
On the regulatory front, Ecuador has demonstrated leadership in digital governance. The 2021 Organic Law on the Protection of Personal Data (LOPDP) established a GDPR-inspired framework for data privacy, giving individuals clear rights and imposing strong compliance obligations on organisations. Although enforcement mechanisms and the Data Protection Authority are still being operationalised, international collaboration with entities like the Council of Europe and UNESCO is helping to shape implementation and alignment with global standards.
Ecuador’s position in the Latin American AI landscape is especially notable for its ethics-first approach. It was the first country in the region to adopt a public-sector AI Code of Ethics and among the first to pilot UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology. While actual AI adoption remains low across most businesses—primarily limited to basic marketing tasks—national efforts are focusing on capacity-building, talent development, and safe AI ecosystem design, supported by academic institutions and international organisations.
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Japan has made significant strides in digital transformation, establishing a robust framework to enhance its digital infrastructure and services. The establishment of the Digital Agency in September 2021 marked a pivotal step in coordinating national digital initiatives, aiming to streamline government operations and promote digital integration across various sectors.
In the realm of cybersecurity, Japan enacted the Basic Act on Cybersecurity in 2014, laying the foundation for comprehensive cybersecurity policies and strategies. This legislation underscores the nation’s commitment to safeguarding its digital assets and infrastructure.
The government has also implemented a “cloud-by-default” policy, encouraging public agencies to prioritise cloud services in their IT procurements. This initiative aims to modernise public sector IT infrastructure and stimulate broader adoption of cloud technologies nationwide.
In the field of quantum technology, Japan has articulated clear strategies to foster innovation and maintain competitiveness. The Quantum Technology and Innovation Strategy, introduced in 2020, focuses on advancing quantum computing, cryptography, and sensing technologies. Building upon this, the Vision of Quantum Future Society, unveiled in 2022, outlines initiatives to integrate quantum advancements into societal and economic systems, addressing challenges such as industrial growth and sustainability.
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El Salvador’s digital transformation is framed by its Digital Agenda 2020–2030, which prioritises digital identity, state modernisation, governance, and innovation. Complementary assessments such as the Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment (DECA) and the World Bank’s DE4LAC have outlined infrastructure gaps, regulatory shortcomings, and low digital literacy, but also identified strong opportunities in e-government integration and financial inclusion. Recent laws on cybersecurity and data protection created the State Cybersecurity Agency (ACE), tasked with overseeing standards, managing risks, and enforcing regulations, though concerns persist about broad state powers over digital content and civil liberties.
Connectivity is a central priority. Approximately 77% of Salvadorans are online, with mobile coverage reaching 93% of the territory and 92% of the population having access to at least 3G. Fixed broadband has improved significantly, recording one of the fastest growth rates in the region with median speeds exceeding 70 Mbps. Government initiatives such as ‘Connecting El Salvador‘, supported by international financing, are extending free public Wi-Fi to parks, schools, and community spaces. At the same time, Starlink’s deployment since 2023 has expanded access to high-speed, low-latency satellite internet.
Strategically, the country is moving forward with its first submarine cable project, a milestone that will link El Salvador directly to Panama and regional backbones, enhancing international bandwidth and reducing reliance on neighbouring countries’ infrastructure. Supported by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and aligned with EU Global Gateway priorities, this investment places El Salvador on a path toward greater digital sovereignty.
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Internet penetration in Guinea remains relatively low compared to global averages but is steadily increasing. As of recent years, estimates suggest that around 33% of the population has access to the internet. The majority of users access the internet through mobile phones, as mobile broadband is more widespread than fixed-line services. Major mobile providers like Orange Guinea, MTN Guinea, and others have been expanding their 4G networks, which has helped to improve access, particularly in urban areas. Despite this progress, significant barriers to higher internet penetration persist. These include high costs for data plans, limited infrastructure in rural areas, and low digital literacy among the population.
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The main body overseeing telecommunications and internet services in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC). The NTRC regulates the internet under the framework of the Telecommunications Act, which aims to promote competitive practices in the sector and improve the quality of services. Internet penetration in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been growing, with significant improvements in infrastructure that enable more residents to access the internet. However, like many Small Island Developing States, challenges remain in terms of fully equitable access, especially in rural and more remote areas.
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In Dominica, internet regulation is primarily overseen by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC). Established under the Telecommunications Act No. 8 of 2000, the NTRC is responsible for coordinating an effective regulatory regime to enhance telecommunications operations in the interest of the country’s sustainable development. The NTRC’s duties include licensing telecommunications providers, managing spectrum allocation, and ensuring compliance with national regulations.
Dominica is also a member of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL), a regional regulatory body formed by a treaty signed on 4 May 2000. ECTEL serves as the regulatory body for telecommunications in its member states, including Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. ECTEL’s role is to promote open competition in telecommunications, harmonize policies on a regional level, and provide for universal service and fair pricing.
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Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest and Syria to the west. The capital and largest city is Baghdad. Iraq is home to diverse ethnic groups, including Iraqi Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Assyrians, Armenians, Yazidis, Mandaeans, Persians and Shabakis with similarly diverse geography and wildlife.
