The country is actively working to extend the coverage of mobile telephone and high-speed Internet services to the entire population by 2027. To achieve this objective, strategic partnerships are essential.
The government wants to strengthen its cooperation with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in the field of digital and telecommunications. The issue was at the heart of discussions during a meeting on Tuesday, January 28, between the Djiboutian Minister of Communication in charge of Posts and Telecommunications, Radwan Abdillahi Bahdon (photo, left), and the director of the ITU regional office for the Arab States, Adel Darwish (photo, center).
Discussions focused on several strategic areas, including improving connectivity in remote areas, deploying 5G and strengthening cybersecurity. Djibouti is looking to benefit from ITU's expertise and support to develop solutions tailored to local challenges and modernize its digital infrastructure.
These discussions are part of the Djiboutian government's vision to make digital technology a lever for economic and social development. With increasing investments in infrastructure, Djibouti aims to become a technology hub in East Africa by 2035. Last December, the public company Djibouti Telecom signed a partnership with Ericsson for the deployment of 5G, marking a key step in this transition.
According to DataReportal data from January 2024, Djibouti had approximately 553,800 mobile subscribers, representing a penetration rate of 48.4%. The number of Internet users stood at 744,200, representing 65% of the population. In terms of cybersecurity, the country has just adopted a national strategy for the period 2024-2030. In addition, the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 report ranks Djibouti in Tier 4 with a score of 31.47 out of 100, highlighting the efforts needed to strengthen cybersecurity capacities.
ITU support is expected to assist Djibouti in implementing its cybersecurity strategy, as well as improving connectivity in rural areas, a government priority under the flagship “Djibouti Fondement Numérique” project, supported by the World Bank.