Timor-Leste (East Timor) is making strides to overcome a long-standing digital divide. For years, this young Southeast Asian nation has grappled with low internet penetration, high costs, and slow speeds – a stark contrast to its more connected neighbors. However, recent developments such as the rollout of a submarine fiber-optic cable and the arrival of satellite internet services promise to transform the country’s digital landscape. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the state of internet access in Timor-Leste as of 2025, covering usage rates, infrastructure, service providers, challenges, government initiatives, the impact of satellite internet (e.g. Starlink), regional comparisons, and emerging opportunities for improving connectivity.
Internet Penetration Rates and User Demographics
Internet usage in Timor-Leste remains relatively low but is on a gradual rise. As of early 2025, approximately 486,000 individuals in Timor-Leste were using the internet, representing 34.5% of the population datareportal.com. This means roughly two-thirds of citizens are still offline. Notably, this figure is a downward revision from an earlier estimate of ~742,000 users (54.2% penetration) reported in 2024 datareportal.com. The discrepancy reflects updated data methodologies – the reality is that many Timorese maintain multiple mobile subscriptions (for voice/SMS or different providers) which previously led to overestimation of “internet users.” In any case, around 900,000 people (65% of the populace) remain without internet access in 2025 datareportal.com, underscoring the significant room for growth.
