I've been visiting many countries in my life, including many in what we call: 3rd world countries on African and Asian continent. All these countries have very limited internet bandwidth. The governments don't have the money to invest in public internet access, or simply are to corrupt and spend the money they receive on other things, but providing internet. Facebook and others jumped in and provide this free internet access. Like the Chinese jumped into telecoms in African continent already more than 15 years ago financing everything for a new telco, including licenses etc (ie companies like Huawei acted as banks sponsored and guaranteed by the Chinese government). Free market makes all this happen. Last time I was on Africa continent, I experiences super slow internet in one of the best hotels of Lagos (Nigeria). Last time I was in countries like Laos, most of the time I could not take care of my email, let alone I could get somewhere with my internet browser. South American continent is different. Most governments/countries enjoy free WIFI at many public parks and other public places. Also poor countries, and some to more of them, also with corrupt government, but somehow these governments decided to connect their own with the internet through these free services. Interestingly, these countries do more business with European countries (Spain, Portugal mainly) due to language barriers. If that has something to do with it, I dont know, but the differences are quite large between South America on one side, and Africa and parts of Asia on the other side.
I remember the push from China into Africa about 20 years ago when they were sending teachers and doctors by the thousands to various areas, while they surveyed the land. They rightly predicted that pretty soon, they themselves would have to outsource production and in order to do that, they need an adequately educated and healthy workforce. They don't necessarily need them informed.
Perhaps one day, there will be a solution that can be developed and provided without state involvement.
Its even worse than what you say. Much of the fertile land is bought by Chinese, and worked on by Chinese, and the food goes straight to China. The locals can view all of this through fences build around these Chinese farms. Some of these farms are having a hotel to accomodate the relatives of the workers when coming for vacation. The government officials say: Chinese are good for us, they bring infrastructure to our countries. But in the end the Chinese are doing the same the Europeans did for a few 100s of years; Robing the continent empty for own profits. Ok, this now sounds a bit black/white, but this is kinda what happens in many African countries at the moment.
I can believe it. I would say that other countries than China are also doing the same or are involved, just not able to go to the same scale of operations.