According to the GSMA’s ‘State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2024’ report, 3.45 billion people, accounting for 43% of the global population, remain unconnected to mobile internet.
While the report shows an annual increase in mobile internet usage, the rate of user growth is slowing. Only 160 million new users were reported in 2023, similar to 2022’s figures. Notably, this mirrors the drop evident from 2015-2021, during which more than 200 million new users were added each year.
John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer at GSMA, stated, “While progress continues to be made in improving infrastructure and in increasing mobile internet adoption, [a] significant digital divide exist[s].”
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Mobile Internet Barriers
Funded by the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation, the report highlights the barriers facilitating the mobile internet gap.
According to the report, 4.6 billion people, accounting for 57% of the global population, use mobile internet on their own devices.
Approximately 350 million people, representing 4% of the global population, reside in remote areas without mobile internet access. This highlights the connectivity gap and the need for more infrastructure in underserved regions.
Furthermore, the report demonstrated that the usage gap is the biggest challenge as 3.1 billion people, accounting for 39% of the global population, reside in areas with mobile internet coverage but do not utilize it.
Connecting the unconnected could add an estimated USD 3.5 trillion to the global economy by 2023 and 2030. Notably, 90% of its impact is projected to benefit low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The Sub-Saharan African region remains the least connected, with only 27% of the population utilizing mobile internet services, indicating a 13% coverage gap and a 60% usage gap.
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Bridging Connectivity Gaps
Building the necessary infrastructure for universal mobile internet access is expected to require investments worth an estimated USD 418 billion.
Device affordability and digital literacy remain the main obstacles to internet adoption in unconnected LMICs, where entry-level, internet-enabled devices cost 18% of the average monthly income, intensifying to 51% for the world’s poorest 20%, and a staggering 99% for the poorest fifth in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Giusti highlighted the persistent barriers, such as affordability, lack of skills and literacy, concerns around safety and security, and lack of relevant content and services, which prevent users from going online.
Furthermore, he emphasized the need for robust online safety frameworks, investments in local and digital ecosystems, and global collaboration between governments, mobile operators, and organizations to address the barriers and bridge connectivity gaps.
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