• Libya’s state operator signed an agreement with China’s ZTE to modernize telecom infrastructure and expand 4G and 5G networks.

• Libya had 6.5 million internet users in 2025, representing 88.5% of the population, but connectivity quality remains uneven.

• The partnership also targets e-commerce platforms, digital wallets and content delivery infrastructure to expand digital services.

Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE Corporation and Libyan state-owned operator Libya Telecom & Technology (LTT) signed a memorandum of understanding to modernize Libya’s telecommunications infrastructure.

The companies announced the agreement in a joint statement released on March 9. They signed the deal during the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona last week.

The partnership aims to upgrade telecom infrastructure weakened by more than a decade of instability and support the expansion of digital services across the country.

Improving Network Quality and Coverage

The cooperation first focuses on modernizing Libya’s mobile infrastructure. The partners plan to expand 4G and 5G networks in order to improve coverage and service quality nationwide. Data from DataReportal show that Libya had around 6.5 million internet users at the end of 2025, representing 88.5% of the population.

The country also recorded more than 7.4 million mobile connections, a figure that exceeds the total population and reflects the widespread use of multiple SIM cards.

However, connectivity quality remains uneven, especially outside major urban centers. In response, ZTE will supply fixed wireless access (FWA) equipment and MiFi terminals, technologies that enable operators to expand broadband coverage quickly without waiting for the longer and more expensive deployment of fiber networks.

Structuring the Digital Services Ecosystem

The partnership also aims to stimulate the development of digital services. The two companies plan to develop e-commerce platforms and digital wallet solutions that facilitate electronic payments.

This objective carries particular importance because financial inclusion remains limited in Libya. Data from the World Bank Global Findex database show that only 33.1% of adults held an account with a financial institution or mobile money service in 2024, while 23.5% made a digital payment during the year.

As a result, most transactions still occur in cash, which continues to slow the expansion of online commerce and digital services.

The partnership also includes the integration of content delivery network (CDN) infrastructure into the telecom network.

These technologies place digital content closer to end users, reduce latency and improve browsing speed, which remains a key factor for encouraging the adoption of new digital services.

A Strategic Sector for Economic Reconstruction

The agreement builds on a long-standing relationship between LTT and ZTE Corporation, which already operates in several emerging markets across Africa and the Middle East.

Libyan authorities view the modernization of telecommunications infrastructure as a key lever to revive economic activity and attract investment in digital technologies.

By strengthening connectivity infrastructure and expanding digital services, Libya aims to create the foundations of a more diversified economy.

In a country that still relies heavily on oil revenues, the expansion of the digital sector could stimulate innovation, support local entrepreneurship and accelerate the modernization of public services.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum