Infrastructure and access
- Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5
- Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure3
- Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure2
- Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure1
- Public Wi-Fi / Community Network Infrastructure1
Digital Divide Country Profile · Asia
KP
North Korea
Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.
Location in the world
North Korea
Asia
North Korea🇰🇵
- Population (2024)
- 26,498,823
- Total area
- 120,538 km²
- Area in square miles
- 46,539.96 mi²
- Coastline
- 2,495 km
National digital inclusion context
A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.
This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to North Korea in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.
The documented portfolio emphasizes Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure, Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure, Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure, 3G, Fiber/Fiber Optic. The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.
Portfolio pattern
What the documented response contains.
Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.
Specific technologies
- 3G3
- Fiber/Fiber Optic3
- 4G/LTE2
- 2G/GSM1
- Wi-Fi1
Intervention classification
- Infrastructure and Specific Technology9
- Infrastructure only1
Education and workforce
Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.
1 initiative explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 0 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.
Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.
Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.
Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.
Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.
Project and initiative portfolio
10 documented records
Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.
01International gateway infrastructure
Internet Communication Bureau Headquarters / Gateway Infrastructure
2015–2018 construction / operational role · PyongyangView details
International gateway infrastructure
Internet Communication Bureau Headquarters / Gateway Infrastructure
2015–2018 construction / operational role · PyongyangStatus / period2015–2018 construction / operational roleLocationPyongyangPopulationState institutions and approved international connectivity usersOrganizationsDPRK state telecom entities / documented operators
Expands domestic telecommunications or network availability, but does not imply open access to the global Internet.
Activities and approach: Gateway/data communications infrastructure
024G mobile broadband
Kangsong 4G Network Launch
2023–ongoing · Pyongyang and expanding regionsView details
4G mobile broadband
Kangsong 4G Network Launch
2023–ongoing · Pyongyang and expanding regionsStatus / period2023–ongoingLocationPyongyang and expanding regionsPopulationMobile subscribersOrganizationsDPRK state telecom entities / documented operators
Expands domestic telecommunications or network availability, but does not imply open access to the global Internet.
Activities and approach: 4G/LTE network
03Mobile network competition
Kangsong Domestic Mobile Network
2015–ongoing · Major citiesView details
Mobile network competition
Kangsong Domestic Mobile Network
2015–ongoing · Major citiesStatus / period2015–ongoingLocationMajor citiesPopulationDomestic mobile subscribersOrganizationsDPRK state telecom entities / documented operators
Expands domestic telecommunications or network availability, but does not imply open access to the global Internet.
Activities and approach: 3G mobile network
04Mobile broadband/telephony
Koryolink 3G Network Rollout
2008–ongoing · Nationwide major population centresView details
Mobile broadband/telephony
Koryolink 3G Network Rollout
2008–ongoing · Nationwide major population centresStatus / period2008–ongoingLocationNationwide major population centresPopulationAuthorized mobile subscribersOrganizationsDPRK state telecom entities / documented operators
Expands domestic telecommunications or network availability, but does not imply open access to the global Internet.
Activities and approach: 3G mobile network
05Domestic digital network
Kwangmyong Nationwide Intranet Access Infrastructure
Ongoing · Nationwide institutions and authorized usersView details
Domestic digital network
Kwangmyong Nationwide Intranet Access Infrastructure
Ongoing · Nationwide institutions and authorized usersStatus / periodOngoingLocationNationwide institutions and authorized usersPopulationStudents, institutions and approved citizensOrganizationsDPRK state telecom entities / documented operators
Expands domestic telecommunications or network availability, but does not imply open access to the global Internet.
Activities and approach: Domestic intranet; fiber/campus access
EducationCollege / university
06Public Wi-Fi / domestic intranet
Mirae Outdoor Wi-Fi Network
2018–ongoing/limited · Central PyongyangView details
Public Wi-Fi / domestic intranet
Mirae Outdoor Wi-Fi Network
2018–ongoing/limited · Central PyongyangStatus / period2018–ongoing/limitedLocationCentral PyongyangPopulationAuthorized local usersOrganizationsDPRK state telecom entities / documented operators
Expands domestic telecommunications or network availability, but does not imply open access to the global Internet.
Activities and approach: Outdoor Wi-Fi; intranet access
07Mobile coverage expansion
Nationwide Cellular Expansion to 1,400+ Base Stations
2024–2026 · NationwideView details
Mobile coverage expansion
Nationwide Cellular Expansion to 1,400+ Base Stations
2024–2026 · NationwideStatus / period2024–2026LocationNationwidePopulationMobile subscribersOrganizationsDPRK state telecom entities / documented operators
Expands domestic telecommunications or network availability, but does not imply open access to the global Internet.
Activities and approach: Cellular base stations; 3G/4G
08National fiber backbone
Nationwide Fiber-Optic Backbone (UNDP-Supported Foundation)
1990s–legacy · Nationwide / major citiesView details
National fiber backbone
Nationwide Fiber-Optic Backbone (UNDP-Supported Foundation)
1990s–legacy · Nationwide / major citiesStatus / period1990s–legacyLocationNationwide / major citiesPopulationGovernment institutions and telecom usersOrganizationsDPRK state telecom entities / documented operators
Expands domestic telecommunications or network availability, but does not imply open access to the global Internet.
Activities and approach: Fiber-optic backbone
09Regional fiber backbone
Provincial and City Fiber Backbone Expansion
1990s–ongoing legacy · Provincial capitals and citiesView details
Regional fiber backbone
Provincial and City Fiber Backbone Expansion
1990s–ongoing legacy · Provincial capitals and citiesStatus / period1990s–ongoing legacyLocationProvincial capitals and citiesPopulationLocal telecom usersOrganizationsDPRK state telecom entities / documented operators
Expands domestic telecommunications or network availability, but does not imply open access to the global Internet.
Activities and approach: Fiber extensions
10Mobile network
Sunnet First Cellular Network
2002–2004 legacy · Pyongyang / initial coverageView details
Mobile network
Sunnet First Cellular Network
2002–2004 legacy · Pyongyang / initial coverageStatus / period2002–2004 legacyLocationPyongyang / initial coveragePopulationEarly mobile usersOrganizationsDPRK state telecom entities / documented operators
Expands domestic telecommunications or network availability, but does not imply open access to the global Internet.
Activities and approach: 2G cellular network
Evidence boundary
Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.
Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.
Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.
Evidence and contextProfile Sources+
These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.
- Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). North Korea. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/korea-north/
- International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
- World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): North Korea. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=KP
- World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: North Korea. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=KP