The challenge
Years of conflict have severely weakened Yemen’s international connectivity. Existing submarine cable infrastructure is vulnerable, redundancy is minimal, and resilience is almost non-existent. Regulatory bottlenecks, outdated infrastructure, and geopolitical constraints further limit investment and restrict the country’s ability to secure reliable global internet access. Yemen needed a clear strategy to strengthen resilience in the short term and attract long-term private sector participation.
Project outline
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Assessed the condition and vulnerability of existing international internet access links and submarine cables.
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Identified alternative submarine cable routes and diversification opportunities.
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Evaluated the feasibility of LEO satellite technologies for short-term resilience.
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Conducted high-level market and legal analysis to identify barriers to investment and infrastructure development.
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Facilitated stakeholder consultations to capture sector needs and align options.
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Developed policy and regulatory recommendations to improve resilience, support investment, and enhance Yemen’s global connectivity.
Our impact
The study delivered a clear and actionable roadmap for strengthening Yemen’s international connectivity. It identified viable redundancy pathways, highlighted near-term solutions such as LEO deployment, and provided targeted policy and regulatory reforms to stimulate investment and reduce vulnerability in the country’s connectivity architecture.
Duration of engagement: March 2023 – July 2023