Telecommunication in Sao Tome and Principe

Development of telephone and internet connections

The following diagrams show the development of the various telephone and internet connections as a percentage of the country's population. Values above 100 percent mean that, on average, every inhabitant has more than one connection.

Access to the internet in Sao Tome and Principe from 1990 - 2021

Broadband internet in Sao Tome and Principe 2006 - 2021

Sao Tome and Principe is lagging behind in the expansion of broadband internet connections. Around 51 percent of all residents have access to the internet. Around 2 percent have their own fast internet connection, which is at least faster than the former ISDN (more than 256 kbit/s). All fixed connections via DSL, cable or satellite were counted here, but not those connected to the internet via mobile communications.

The increasing prevalence of cell phones and the simultaneous decline in landline phones clearly indicate a change in Sao Tome and Principe. While the number of landlines has fallen significantly in recent years, the spread of cell phones has risen to 85 cell phone subscriptions per 100 people at last count. Such a clear shift does not occur in all countries, but the trend points in the same direction internationally.

► All international calling codes