Iraq’s most notable digital strength today is interconnection. IRAQ-IXP (Baghdad), powered by DE-CIX, became the Middle East’s third-largest internet exchange within its first year, connecting dozens of networks (including major CDNs) and lifting local traffic peaks, an uncommon leap for a new IXP in the region.
International connectivity is consolidating around Al-Faw (Basra), where Iraq already has GBI and FALCON and is adding new systems such as Ooredoo’s Fibre-in-Gulf (FIG), with government announcements pointing to a sixth subsea cable by 2026/27. This, coupled with plans to route traffic over terrestrial fiber north to Türkiye, positions Iraq as a growing Gulf–to–Europe transit corridor.
On the domestic side, a state-backed 5G program with Vodafone aims to accelerate next-gen coverage, while official e-signatures launched in 2025 provide a legal and operational anchor for digital government and online services. Early AI capacity development, such as the University of Baghdad’s new College of Artificial Intelligence (AY 2025/26), adds to the talent pipeline. These moves don’t yet make Iraq a regional leader across all indicators, but they mark measurable steps where the country is starting to stand out.
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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) runs a compact but steadily modernising internet stack. International capacity lands via the Eastern Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS), with newer regional diversity from Digicel’s Deep Blue One/Southern Caribbean Fiber, while domestic interconnection is anchored by the national IXP SVGIX (launched in 2016). These pieces lower latency and improve resilience for a small island market.
On the policy side, SVG updated its telecom rulebook by passing the Electronic Communications Bill on 24 October 2022, aligning with the ECTEL regional framework. The regulator and operators have also refarmed spectrum. Flow shut down 2G in September 2023 to strengthen 3G/4G capacity supporting better mobile broadband performance.
In digital finance, SVG shares in a notable regional first: the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s DCash was the world’s first retail CBDC publicly issued within a currency union (launched 31 March 2021). The pilot closed on 12 January 2024 as the ECCB prepares a commercial-grade ‘DCash 2.0,’ but the episode remains a standout innovation marker for the sub-region.
Looking at resilience and inclusion, Internet Society’s Pulse index rates SVG’s Internet medium on resilience overall score 49%, with local initiatives aimed at strengthening the baseline, for example, the NTRC–Flow Schools’ Project III signed in August 2025 to upgrade bandwidth to all schools. Together with the IXP and diversified subsea routes, these measures point to gradual improvements in reliability and access.
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Dominica’s internet stack is small but well-structured. International capacity is provided via the Eastern Caribbean Fibre System (ECFS), which terminates in Roseau/St. George, with additional regional diversity from Digicel’s Deep Blue One/Southern Caribbean Fiber routes nearby, together improving resilience for OECS markets. A national internet exchange, DANIX, has been live since 2013 under the Universal Service Fund, keeping domestic traffic local and reducing latency, a key metric for a microstate.
Policy is anchored by the whole-of-government National Digital Transformation Strategy 2022–2026 and NTRC regulatory instruments (numbering, QoS, USF), which channel funding into community access points and public site connectivity. In digital finance, Dominica participated in the ECCB’s DCash retail CBDC, the first such pilot in a currency union, which ran from March 2021 until 12 January 2024, a regional innovation milestone, even though the pilot has now closed.
The legal toolkit for online activity is functional, with the Electronic Transactions Act (2013) and Electronic Evidence Act (2010), but notable gaps remain: no comprehensive data-protection law or authority, and no adopted national cybersecurity strategy to date. Overall, Dominica stands out in the region for having an operational IXP (DANIX) and a current digital-transformation strategy, while continuing to build out last-mile access under the USF and CARDTP programmes.
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Georgia has been actively working towards fostering a digital economy, recognising its potential to drive economic growth, innovation, and competitiveness. The government has made significant policy efforts to create an environment conducive to private sector development and digitalisation. The country’s digital economy is characterised by a well-developed connectivity infrastructure, with 100% population coverage by at least 4G mobile networks and 62% of households having a computer at home. However, there are still gaps in urban-rural connectivity and in connecting the last mile, with the lack of affordable and quality broadband internet service putting rural areas at a competitive disadvantage.
Data protection and privacy have also taken a front seat in Georgia’s digital development. In 2023, the Parliament adopted a new Law on Personal Data Protection, which came into force in March 2024. This legislation aligns Georgia’s regulatory standards more closely with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), introducing a robust set of rights for individuals and obligations for data controllers and processors. It mandates data breach reporting, appointing Data Protection Officers in both public and private sectors, and privacy-by-design principles in digital services. The Personal Data Protection Service (PDPS), an independent supervisory authority, is tasked with enforcement, oversight, and public awareness-raising.
In the cybersecurity domain, Georgia has developed an advanced and multi-layered framework to defend against a rising tide of cyber threats. The National Cybersecurity Strategy 2021–2024, coordinated by the National Security Council, outlines strategic goals such as strengthening cyber resilience, building national capabilities, developing a cyber-aware culture, and fostering international partnerships. The Cyber Security Bureau of the Ministry of Defence plays a key role in ensuring the security of defense infrastructure and building sector-specific expertise. Alongside national institutions, Georgia collaborates with NATO, the EU, and other international bodies to align its defensive capabilities with global standards.
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Jordan’s digital profile reflects a country in steady transformation, guided by a clear strategic vision and a growing investment in technology-driven governance. Through policies such as the National Digital Transformation Strategy, the Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2023–2027), and the Blockchain Technology Policy (2025), Jordan is laying the foundation for a modern digital economy.
Internet penetration now exceeds 90%, with improvements in broadband infrastructure, the introduction of 5G, and the expansion of smart services across sectors. The capital, Amman, recognised as the 2025 Arab Digital Capital, symbolises the country’s commitment to innovation and digital urban development.
The e-commerce sector is expanding rapidly, supported by increasing mobile and digital payment adoption, though cash remains dominant. Public platforms like the Sanad app are enabling secure digital identity services, streamlining citizen access to government offerings.
In the realm of cybersecurity, Jordan has launched a comprehensive national strategy and established the National Cyber Security Centre, resulting in a significant leap in global rankings. Meanwhile, the Personal Data Protection Law (2023) marks an important step toward safeguarding privacy and personal data, though concerns remain regarding the implications of the Cybercrime Law on digital rights.
Jordan’s embrace of emerging technologies—including blockchain, IoT, and AI—is supported by institutional frameworks and innovation programs, placing the country among the region’s forward-looking digital actors. While challenges persist, particularly around regulatory balance and inclusion, Jordan’s trajectory signals a deliberate and structured approach to digital transformation.
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San Marino is among the most digitally connected nations in Europe, largely due to its compact geography enabling near-universal coverage. Fixed broadband coverage is virtually nationwide, with over 50% of users already connected via fibre, and a committed phase-out of copper (DSL) by 2027. Significantly, San Marino was the first country in Europe to achieve full 5G coverage, reaching roughly 99% of its territory by late 2018. These developments enable broadband speeds that slightly exceed regional averages—the average fixed internet speed is around 96.8 Mbps, outperforming Italy’s ~91.8 Mbps and positioning San Marino ahead of many EU countries.
On e‑government, San Marino registers an E‑Government Development Index (EGDI) score of approximately 0.655, placing it moderately high in global comparisons – though not among the very top performers. The country also features a Digital Identity Readiness Score of 54/100, placing it in the medium category for readiness and capability in digital identity systems.
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Grenada has been progressively enhancing its digital infrastructure to support economic growth and improve public services. The nation’s connectivity is bolstered by submarine fibre optic cables, notably the Eastern Caribbean Fibre System (ECFS) and the Southern Caribbean Fibre (SCF). The ECFS is a 1,730 km network interconnecting 14 eastern Caribbean islands, while the SCF is an underwater fibre optics ring network connecting several Caribbean nations. These cables are integral to Grenada’s telecommunications infrastructure, facilitating internet services and international communications. Despite these advancements, challenges such as limited digital infrastructure in rural areas and logistical constraints persist.
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Honduras is working to strengthen its digital transformation through frameworks such as the National Digital Government Plan 2023–2026 and the National Policy of Digital Republic 2022–2025, introduced under President Xiomara Castro. The country has historically lagged in international digital rankings but shows signs of progress. In the UN E-Government Development Index (2024), Honduras advanced to 142nd place out of 193 countries, an improvement from 155th in 2022, although it remains behind regional peers in areas such as online services and interoperability.
In terms of open data, Honduras performs slightly above the regional average. According to the Open Data Inventory (ODIN) 2024, the country ranks 119th globally with a score of 50, reflecting modest advances in data availability and accessibility compared to earlier assessments. This builds on its previous performance in the Open Data Index, where Honduras had already scored above the SICA regional average. The government is seeking to consolidate this relative strength through broader publication of open datasets across public institutions.
Beyond governance and open data, Honduras has limited digital infrastructure compared to other Central American states that serve as regional submarine cable hubs. Instead, the government is prioritising institutional modernisation, digital identity, cloud adoption, and cybersecurity. The country is currently ranked 114th out of 133 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2024, underlining structural challenges in innovation capacity.
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India’s past, present, and future are closely intertwined with digital and AI developments. Origins of the digital era based on ‘0’ and ‘1’ could be traced back to the invention of the number ‘0’ or Shunya in Sanscrit. Number ‘zero’ travelled from India via the Arab world to Renaissance Italy, arriving at modernity and our era.
India’s digital landscape is one of the fastest-growing in the world, driven by large-scale public infrastructure, strategic investments, and rapid adoption across sectors. The country’s flagship Digital India programme and BharatNet have expanded broadband access to rural areas, while initiatives like MeghRaj (government cloud) and India Stack (DPI) enable digital identity (Aadhaar), payments (UPI), and consent-based data sharing at population scale. India’s public cloud market is projected to reach USD 24.2 billion by 2028, and the country is emerging as a global data hub with major hyperscaler investments (e.g., AWS, Microsoft) and ~1,800 MW of data center capacity expected by 2026.
India is among the global leaders in digital payments, with UPI recording over 10 billion monthly transactions, and in digital public infrastructure, influencing developing economies globally. The country is also a key submarine cable landing point, with 15+ active systems and upcoming links (IAX, IEX) poised to quadruple its international bandwidth. With the launch of the IndiaAI Mission, a large-scale GPU compute facility, and a growing GenAI startup ecosystem, India is positioning itself as a major AI innovation hub. The government’s regulatory efforts—such as the DPDP Act (2023), cybersecurity audits via CERT-In, and sector-specific AI guidelines—are gradually shaping a governance framework for its expanding digital footprint.
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