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Cabo Verde's Digital Infrastructure

Cabo Verde has set an ambitious goal to become a Digital Hub in the Atlantic and a regional center for telecommunications, innovation, and entrepreneurship by 2030. The country's strategic mid-Atlantic location positions it uniquely as a connectivity bridge between Europe, Africa, and South America. For businesses considering operations in Cabo Verde—particularly those in technology, remote services, or sectors requiring reliable internet—understanding the current state and future trajectory of digital infrastructure is essential.

International Connectivity: World-Class Submarine Cable Network

Cabo Verde's greatest digital strength lies in its international connectivity. The archipelago sits at the intersection of five international fiber-optic submarine cables, providing robust links to global networks.

The EllaLink Cable: A Game-Changer

The most significant recent development was the activation of the EllaLink submarine cable on June 6, 2022. This optical submarine cable connects Brazil and Portugal via Cabo Verde, creating a direct link between the European and South American continents.

EllaLink's impact has been transformative:

  • Capacity: Provides 30-40 Tbps (terabits per second) of initial capacity—adding 40 Gbps specifically to Cabo Verde's infrastructure
  • Latency: Offers the lowest latency available on the market for transatlantic connections
  • Redundancy: Eliminated Cabo Verde's previous dependence on a single cable system (WACS), dramatically improving reliability
  • Future expansion: Plans for a landing in Maio will deliver 72 Tbps by late 2026

The cable's strategic importance is reflected in results: EllaLink contributed to Cabo Verde being ranked as the second-best ecosystem for technological start-ups in ECOWAS in 2022.

Other Major Cables

Beyond EllaLink, Cabo Verde connects to:

  • Atlantis-2 cable: 6,000 km, operational since 2000
  • West Africa Cable System (WACS)
  • Senegal Horn of Africa Regional Express Cable

Future projects include connections to Google's Equiano subsea cable, the PEACE cable (Pakistan and East Africa Connecting Europe), and the "Amílcar Cabral" network connecting several subregional capitals.

Projected Capacity Growth

International internet bandwidth is expected to increase by 43% annually through 2027, resulting in a sixfold capacity increase to 132 Gbps by 2027. Economic modeling suggests this bandwidth expansion could reduce fixed internet prices by 3 percentage points and mobile internet by 6 percentage points.

Regulatory Success

Government policies promoting Open Access to international connection infrastructure, facilitated by the regulatory body (ARME), drastically reduced wholesale internet prices from 3,500 CVE/Mb to 413 CVE/Mb—an 88% reduction that demonstrates the impact of smart regulation.

Domestic Connectivity: The Last-Mile Challenge

While international connectivity is world-class, domestic internet speeds and accessibility present a more mixed picture—the classic "last-mile" problem.

Current Speed Metrics

  • Mobile broadband: 13.3 Mbps (2019 data)
  • Fixed broadband: 16.3 Mbps (2021 data)
  • General internet speed: 17.84 Mbps (2025)
  • Average broadband: 50 Mbps (national telecom sector)
  • Fiber optic network: Up to 1 Gbps symmetric speeds (where available)

For remote workers and digital nomads, the general download speed of approximately 8-17 Mbps is "fairly low," though adequate for basic business operations. High-bandwidth applications like video conferencing, large file transfers, or cloud-based design work may face limitations.

International Bandwidth Per User

Currently, Cabo Verde has 44 Kb per user of international bandwidth—considered "relatively small" despite the robust cable infrastructure. This reflects the challenge of distributing available capacity across the archipelago's dispersed population.

Fiber Coverage Progress

By 2025, the terrestrial fiber optic network is projected to reach 70% of households on major islands—a significant milestone that will enable much higher speeds for businesses and residents in covered areas.

Internet Access and Affordability

Penetration Rates

Internet access has grown substantially:

  • Overall penetration: 65-80% of the population (2023), more than double the African average
  • Urban vs. rural divide: 69% of urban residents use the internet, but only 48% of rural inhabitants—a significant digital divide
  • Mobile connectivity: 87.2% of the population has mobile connections capable of broadband, but only 43.5% are actual mobile internet subscribers
  • Mobile market saturation: 100.8 mobile connections per 100 inhabitants (2023)

Affordability Analysis

The cost picture is nuanced:

  • 1 GB mobile data: Approximately $5.46 monthly, representing 2.07% of GNI per capita
  • UN affordability target: 2% of GNI per capita or less
  • African average: 6.17% of GNI per capita

While Cabo Verde's aggregate national cost (2.07%) slightly exceeds the UN target and is well below the African average, an assessment shows that approximately 60% of the population cannot afford mobile broadband access at the 2% threshold. This reflects significant income inequality—wealthier residents enjoy affordable access while many struggle with costs.

Value for Money

Despite improvements, Cabo Verdeans generally receive "comparatively low value for internet services compared to peers," with costs equivalent to 3.16% of GNI per capita for mobile internet and 2.59% for fixed internet.

Public Access Infrastructure

The government operates 99 digital public squares and 185 public institutions offering free broadband internet access, with an average of 2,200 users connected simultaneously per month. This public infrastructure helps bridge the affordability gap.

Market Structure: The Duopoly Problem

The telecommunications sector is dominated by a duopoly, leading to lack of universal broadband coverage and inaccessible services for many. State-owned CV Telecom holds a dominant market position, managing the Public Infrastructure Network under a 20-year concession.

This market structure limits competition and contributes to the affordability and value-for-money challenges noted above. For businesses, it means limited options for service providers and potentially higher costs than in more competitive markets.

4G and 5G: Catching Up to Regional Peers


4G Status: Late and Limited

Cabo Verde was one of the last countries in the region to launch 4G services, and penetration remains low:

  • 4G market penetration: Only 11.6% (2021/2022)
  • 4G coverage: 54-80% of the population covered by 4G networks
  • 4G connections: Grew to 65,400 in 2021

The gap between coverage (80%) and actual market penetration (11.6%) suggests issues with device affordability or service uptake rather than network availability.

5G: Strategic Plans in Motion

Cabo Verde presented its National Strategy for 5G in September 2025, with ambitious targets:

  • 2026 goal: Achieve 90% internet penetration and guarantee greater quality and speed
  • 2028 goal: Full 5G coverage through partnership with Huawei
  • Economic projection: 5G technology anticipated to generate 77 billion CVE in economic impact by 2036 across smart tourism, digital health, and logistics
  • Initial focus: CV Telecom plans to pilot 5G on main tourist islands (Sal and Boa Vista)

Implementation Delays

The 5G rollout has faced delays concerning equipment supplier selection and spectrum concession negotiations. Aspirational peers like Mauritius and Seychelles have already launched 5G networks, putting Cabo Verde behind regional competitors.

TechPark CV: The Physical Foundation

The digital hub vision is anchored by substantial physical infrastructure investment:

Project Details

  • Investment: €51.85 million project supported by €45.5 million African Development Bank loan
  • Inauguration: May 2025
  • Locations: Hubs in Praia (Santiago) and Mindelo (São Vicente)

Components

  • State-of-the-art data centers with 30 EB (exabytes) storage capacity target
  • Second data center planned for Praia campus
  • Disaster recovery site
  • Cybersecurity center (São Vicente)
  • Big Data processing capacity: 334/128 GB/Core
  • Direct fiber connection from EllaLink cable

Economic Impact

TechPark CV aims to create up to 1,500 jobs on Santiago and São Vicente, positioning Cabo Verde as a strong regional provider of digital services including data hosting, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity.

Strategic Implications for Business

Strengths to Leverage

  1. World-class international connectivity: EllaLink and five submarine cables provide excellent transatlantic links
  2. Growing capacity: Sixfold bandwidth increase to 132 Gbps by 2027
  3. TechPark infrastructure: Professional data center and disaster recovery facilities
  4. Regional hub positioning: Second-best tech startup ecosystem in ECOWAS

Challenges to Navigate

  1. Limited domestic speeds: 8-17 Mbps average is adequate but not exceptional
  2. Digital divide: Rural areas lag significantly behind urban centers
  3. Affordability: 60% of population cannot afford broadband despite meeting aggregate targets
  4. Market structure: Duopoly limits competition and value
  5. 4G/5G lag: Behind regional peers in mobile network technology

Practical Recommendations

  • Location matters: Praia and Mindelo offer best connectivity through TechPark fiber links
  • Verify fiber availability: The 70% household coverage projection means 30% lack fiber access
  • Plan for 2027: Massive bandwidth increases and 5G rollout should materially improve conditions
  • Consider TechPark hosting: For data-intensive operations, co-location at TechPark offers direct EllaLink access
  • Budget for connectivity: While improving, costs remain higher than developed markets
  • Target urban markets: The rural digital divide means urban areas offer better connectivity for customers/employees

The Bottom Line

Cabo Verde's digital infrastructure presents a paradox: world-class international connectivity meets challenging last-mile distribution. The archipelago genuinely functions as an Atlantic bridge with exceptional transatlantic cables, but transforming that capacity into universal, affordable, high-speed domestic access remains a work in progress.

For businesses in digital services, technology, or remote work sectors, Cabo Verde offers genuine advantages—particularly through TechPark infrastructure and EllaLink connectivity. However, operations requiring universal high-speed access across all islands or serving rural populations will face constraints. The 2027 timeline for capacity expansion and 5G rollout represents an important inflection point: companies establishing operations now can grow into substantially improved infrastructure over the next 2-3 years.