43 percent of the world’s population – equivalent to 3.45 billion people – still lacks access to mobile internet, according to the GSMA.

The organisation’s latest  ‘State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2024’ report highlights that, while mobile internet adoption continues to grow annually, the pace has significantly slowed. Last year saw 160 million new users coming online, matching 2022’s figures but falling short of the 200+ million annual growth witnessed between 2015 and 2021.

The study – funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) – identifies crucial gaps in global connectivity and highlights the pressing need for collaborative action.

Currently, 4.6 billion people (57% of the global population) use mobile internet on their personal devices. However, a concerning 350 million people remain without any mobile internet coverage, predominantly in remote areas. More critically, 3.1 billion people have coverage but don’t use it—a “usage gap” nine times larger than the coverage gap.

Sub-Saharan Africa emerges as the least connected region globally, with only 27% of its population using mobile internet services. The region faces a 13% coverage gap and a substantial 60% usage gap.

The economic implications are significant. Bringing the unconnected online could contribute an estimated £3.5 trillion to the global economy between 2023-2030, with 90% of this impact benefitting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Device affordability remains a major hurdle in LMICs, where entry-level internet-enabled devices cost 18% of average monthly income, rising to 51% for the poorest fifth of the population. The situation is particularly dire in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the poorest 20% would need to spend 99% of their monthly income on such devices.

“While progress continues to be made in improving infrastructure and in increasing mobile internet adoption, significant digital divides exist,” said John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer at the GSMA.

Digital skills and literacy represent another significant barrier, particularly in Asian countries. Additional challenges include limited access to relevant localised content, security concerns, and inadequate infrastructure such as electricity.

Even among current mobile internet users, usage patterns reveal limited engagement. An average of 43% of users in surveyed countries expressed desire to use mobile internet more extensively, but face constraints including security concerns and affordability issues.

The report emphasises the urgent need for collaboration between governments, mobile operators, and international organisations to address these barriers and ensure meaningful connectivity for all.

A full copy of the GSMA’s mobile internet report can be found here (PDF)

(Photo by Paul Hanaoka)

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