The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) has conducted a study on the deliberately implemented policies regarding the state of the internet, speed indicators, pricing policy, and digital restrictions in France’s overseas territories, APA reports.
The study assessed the current state of internet services in France's overseas territories, identifying the main limitations in the development of internet infrastructure and the key factors hindering the regions’ digital transformation.
The purpose of the study is to present, on a scientific basis, the current challenges and prospects for eliminating digital inequality in the overseas territories.
Internet restrictions in overseas territories
The results of the study show that internet infrastructure, as well as the speed and quality of internet in France’s overseas territories, are significantly weaker compared to mainland France.
Limited access to the internet and the lack of technological resources negatively affect the social and economic development of these regions. In particular, restricted access to social media and other online platforms, along with low-speed internet connections, create serious challenges for freedom of expression and the exchange of information. Differences in internet usage are observed across demographic factors such as age, education level, and socio-economic status. In regions like Martinique, Guadeloupe, Réunion, Mayotte, and French Polynesia, internet usage is lower among older and less-educated population groups. These findings highlight the existence of digital inequality and the main barriers to the digital development of these regions.
Sharp disparity in internet speed between France and its overseas territories
Internet speed measurements conducted on May 14, 2025, show that while the average internet speed in Lyon, France, is 749.62 Mbit/s, it ranges from only 0.02 to 24 Mbit/s in overseas territories such as Kanaky (New Caledonia). Similarly low internet speeds persist in Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Mayotte, and French Polynesia. These figures clearly expose the government's discriminatory policy.
https://x.com/bakuinitiative/status/1936299072027058511
Internet prices
In Kanaky (New Caledonia), monthly internet service prices range between €35 and €85 and are primarily based on outdated ADSL technology. These prices are significantly higher compared to mainland France, where monthly fiber-optic internet services typically cost between €20 and €30, offering speeds ranging from 100 to 300 Mbit/s. Despite the broader availability of fiber-optic technology in the overseas territories, the infrastructure remains largely ADSL-based, resulting in lower service quality and higher prices. This situation presents serious challenges for modernizing digital infrastructure and improving service accessibility.
In the field of satellite internet, services like Starlink set equipment costs at around €350, with a monthly subscription fee of approximately €190. However, France has banned the use of satellite internet services in some overseas territories without an official license issued by ARCEP (Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications, Postal Services and Press Distribution). These restrictions are mainly justified on the grounds of national sovereignty and data security. As a result, both the high cost of services and equipment, as well as legal regulations, pose significant barriers to the widespread adoption of satellite internet services.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DLJsyH7omOu/?img_index=1
Digital independence of overseas territories is restricted
The study’s results show that the French government manages internet infrastructure in the overseas territories in a centralized manner, deliberately maintaining economic and legal barriers that limit technological development. This policy severely restricts the digital independence of the overseas territories. As a result, significant problems arise in education, the digital economy, freedom of expression, and the media, while the exchange of information and development of international relations are hindered.
The official websites of the main internet providers used in the study are publicly accessible and cover leading companies in mainland France such as RED by SFR, Orange, Sosh, and Bouygues Telecom, as well as providers operating in Kanaky (New Caledonia) including OPT, Lagoon, Nautile, Fibre NC, and NC Pocket WiFi. These data sources play a key role in ensuring the accuracy and transparency of the study.
The French government mainly attributes the limited development of fiber-optic infrastructure in the overseas territories to geographic challenges and the distance from central regions. However, an important question arises: how has New Zealand, located near Kanaky (New Caledonia) and having similar geographic features, managed to fully build fiber-optic infrastructure accessible to approximately 90% of its population? This comparison demonstrates that the reasons for technological backwardness in the overseas territories cannot be explained solely by geographic factors and highlights the need to consider additional socio-economic and political factors.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7342064883212984321
Internet restrictions in overseas territories — a continuation of colonial policy
The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) views the limitations imposed on the development of internet infrastructure in France’s overseas territories not merely as technical challenges but as a continuation of colonial governance in the modern era. BIG emphasizes that ensuring the digital rights of the peoples living in these territories, as well as providing equal and fair access to digital opportunities, is essential under the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Global Strategy for the Information Society, and other international human rights instruments.
BIG states that France’s centralized and restrictive policies clearly violate its obligations regarding digital equality under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (freedom of expression and right to receive information) and within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This policy limits the digital independence of the overseas territories, hinders socio-economic development, and obstructs the protection of the fundamental rights of the local population.
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