Situated in Western Africa, e-Mauritania grapples with challenges typical of many developing nations. It exhibits middle-level Telecommunication Infrastructure (TII) and Human Capital (HC), indicating a foundation for digital growth. However, despite these strengths, it falls into the Low Online Service Index (OSI) group.
This reveals a notable gap between infrastructure and human capital development and the provision of online services. There’s a disconnect when it comes to translating government investments into accessible and user-friendly online services. In fact, e-Mauritania currently lacks a functional national portal, which is a fundamental platform for delivering government services and information online.
Perhaps most concerning is e-Mauritania’s low EPI value, ranking 190th out of 193 countries assessed in the latest UN e-government survey. This suggests that citizen engagement in digital governance processes is severely limited, further exacerbating the gap between the government and its citizens.
Ambitious digital transformation agenda
I believe Mauritania’s National Digital Transformation Agenda 2022-2025 signifies a significant step towards modernizing the country’s ICT infrastructure and government services. The agenda’s focus on simplifying and digitizing government and business support services reflects a forward-looking approach to embracing digital technologies for societal advancement.
What I like most about this agenda is its recognition of the importance of ICT infrastructure in driving digital transformation. With a population coverage of at least 35% by a 4G mobile network in 2021 and an internet penetration rate of 98% in 2022, e-Mauritania has made significant strides in expanding its ICT infrastructure. This lays a strong foundation for increasing connectivity and access to digital services across the country.
However, despite these advancements, there’s still work to be done in ensuring equitable access to the internet.
While the internet penetration rate stands at an impressive 98%, recent data shows that 55.6% of the population remained offline at the beginning of 2024. This highlights the need for targeted efforts to bridge the digital divide and ensure that all Mauritanians can benefit from the opportunities afforded by the digital age.
Looking at the numbers, it’s clear that there’s significant untapped potential for internet usage in Mauritania. With 2.19 million internet users at the start of 2024, there’s room for growth in expanding digital literacy and encouraging more widespread internet adoption. Additionally, the high percentage of cellular mobile connections, equivalent to 129.6% of the total population, suggests that mobile devices are a primary means of accessing the internet for many Mauritanians.
Infrastructure is an issue
Looking at the infrastructure challenges in e-Mauritania, I believe they paint a vivid picture of the disparities that exist within the country. With 44% of the population residing in rural areas, many find themselves in remote villages where basic infrastructure and access to information and services are severely limited.
One glaring issue is the prohibitively high cost of fixed broadband, which remains out of reach for most Mauritanians. This creates a significant barrier to entry for individuals and communities looking to participate in the digital age.
While the potential benefits of digital transformation are evident, particularly in a context like e-Mauritania, I believe it’s crucial to acknowledge the risk of widening inequalities. As digital technologies become more prevalent, there’s a real danger of deepening the divide between rural and urban populations.
In cities, where digital technology and smartphones are widespread, residents may enjoy easy access to online government services and information (if/when they become available.) However, the same cannot be said for rural populations, who often find themselves disconnected from these digital advancements.
In these conditions, one significant project supported by the EU is the establishment of a new submarine to connect Mauritania, providing a backup solution to the current single submarine cable (African Coast to Europe – ACE). This initiative not only enhances Mauritania’s connectivity but also benefits its landlocked neighbors by providing additional data capacity to accommodate the growing volume of digital traffic.
I think it’s also noteworthy that through initiatives like the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe), the EU has allocated significant funding to support Mauritania’s development goals. Over the period of 2021-2024 alone, €125 million has been earmarked for this partnership, contributing to a decade-long commitment totaling over €1 billion.
Final thoughts
While Mauritania’s digital transformation agenda is ambitious and promising, it’s essential to address the remaining challenges to ensure that the benefits of the digital revolution are accessible to all. The government has a long way to go in terms of digitalization.
Sources:
https://idea.usaid.gov/cd/mauritania/information-and-communications-technology-ict
https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/DDD/ddd_MRT.pdf
https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Data/Country-Information/id/108-Mauritania
