Cape Verdean authorities plan to roll out fifth-generation mobile Internet in the country by 2026, as announced during the presentation of the draft national 5G strategy last week.
“Priority for 2026, 5G will be the foundation of the next decade, enabling greater speed, reduced latency, and the massive connection of devices. […] More than just a technological modernization, 5G is seen as a tool for economic and social transformation, essential for realizing Cape Verde’s ambition to establish itself as a digital and innovation platform,” the Ministry of Digital Affairs stated in a Facebook post.
The features outlined in the strategy document are expected to create a favorable environment for innovation and investment, while strengthening digital inclusion. This would help the country achieve its ambition of becoming a digital hub. At the beginning of 2025, the island nation had an Internet penetration rate of 73.5%, with 387,000 users, according to DataReportal.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) also notes extensive mobile coverage, with 2G, 3G, and 4G serving 99.3%, 95.3%, and 88.5% of the population, respectively.
