Does Mauritania lack fiber optic and cable cables

Mauritania has fiber optic and submarine cable infrastructure, but fixed-line broadband remains limited, with mobile networks dominating internet access.Fiber Optic DeploymentMauritania has been actively expanding its fiber optic backbone, with over 5,500 km deployed by mid-2024 and an additional 2,300 km planned under the National Digital Transformation Agenda 2022–2025 . The fiber network links major cities and neighboring countries, supporting mobile broadband and some fixed connections . Despite this, fiber-to-the-home and modern cable connections are scarce, so most fixed internet access relies on older DSL lines or fixed-wireless solutions .Submarine Cable ConnectivityInternational connectivity has historically depended on the ACE (Africa Coast to Europe) submarine cable, landing in Nouakchott since 2012 . To improve resilience and bandwidth, Mauritania contracted with EllaLink in 2025 to extend a transatlantic cable with a 500 km branch to Nouadhibou, expected to be operational by early 2027 . Additionally, a second undersea cable began deployment in 2026, linking Mauritania to Europe and South America, with service expected in January 2027 . These projects aim to reduce reliance on a single cable and enhance international internet capacity.Internet Access and UsageFixed-line broadband remains extremely limited, serving roughly 1% of the population, with average speeds around 25 Mbps download and 14 Mbps upload . In contrast, mobile broadband is widespread, with 74% of the population covered by 4G and over 6 million mobile connections in 2025 . The market is dominated by a few operators, including Mauritel/Moov Mauritel, Mattel, and Chinguitel, forming an oligopoly .SummaryWhile Mauritania does not lack fiber optic or submarine cables, the country's fixed-line broadband infrastructure is underdeveloped, and most internet access is mobile-based. Ongoing projects like the EllaLink extension and the second undersea cable, along with national fiber backbone expansion, are expected to improve connectivity, reduce latency, and gradually increase high-speed home broadband availability .