Eritrea is the only coastal African country with zero submarine fiber cables. Mobile internet is blocked for most citizens. Only 1% of Eritreans have ever been online. Obfuscated VPNs are the only tool that works.
See top VPNs →Eritrea has the most isolated internet in Africa — and arguably the world outside North Korea. Mobile internet access is blocked for ordinary citizens. The country has no submarine fiber-optic cable landings, making it the only coastal African nation completely cut off from undersea infrastructure. As of 2025, roughly 80% of Eritreans have never been online. Those who do access the internet must use slow connections at a handful of internet cafés in Asmara.
Eritrea continuously blocks all social media — the only African country with a permanent blanket social media ban. A VPN with advanced obfuscation like ProtonVPN Stealth or Surfshark NoBorders is the only realistic way to access blocked content. The limited connectivity means VPN performance will be slow regardless — but a VPN is essential for privacy and access to any restricted content.
If you are travelling to Eritrea: install ProtonVPN before you arrive. Download the APK from protonvpn.com and keep it offline. EriTel is a state monopoly — all internet passes through the government. Use only Stealth mode.