The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2023
The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2023
Mobile Internet
Connectivity
2023
www.gsmaintelligence.com
info@gsmaintelligence.com
Contributors: Isabelle Carboni, Claire Sibthorpe, Melle Tiel Groenestege, Anne Shannon Baxter, Harry Fernando
Aquije Ballon, Anna-Noémie Ouattara Boni
Contents
Key findings 4
Introduction 7
Appendix 4: Glossary 78
3
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Key findings
Mobile internet adoption continues to expansion, this usage gap has been shrinking
increase, with 57% of the global population slowly in recent years, from 40% in 2021 to
(4.6 billion people) now using mobile 38% in 2022. However, the usage gap remains
internet – but the growth rate at which almost eight times the size of the coverage
people are adopting mobile internet gap. Considering only adults aged 18 and
slowed in 2022. Only 200 million people above, 23% are still not using mobile internet
started using mobile internet in 2022, despite being covered by a mobile broadband
compared to 300 million in 2021 and in 2020. network. The majority of those living within
Just over three quarters of the growth in mobile broadband coverage but not using it
mobile internet adoption in 2022 came from do not yet own a mobile phone.
low- and middle-income countries (LMICs),
where 95% of the unconnected population onnectivity varies significantly between
C
live. In least developed countries (LDCs), and within regions and countries, with 95%
almost 30 million additional people started of the unconnected living in LMICs. Sub-
using mobile internet in 2022, meaning one in Saharan Africa remains the region with the
four people in LDCs are using mobile internet. largest coverage and usage gaps. In LMICs,
adults in rural areas are still 29% less likely to
Mobile broadband coverage has remained use mobile internet than those in urban areas,
relatively unchanged, with 95% of the global while women are 19% less likely to use mobile
population living within the footprint of internet than men. In LDCs, only 25% of the
a mobile broadband network. With only population use mobile internet, compared to
marginal growth in coverage in 2022, the 52% across LMICs overall and 85% in high-
coverage gap – those living in areas without income countries (HICs).
mobile broadband coverage – stands at
almost 400 million people (5% of the global he majority of the global population now
T
population). The remaining uncovered own a smartphone, which is how most
communities, which are predominantly rural, people are accessing mobile internet. At the
poor and sparsely populated, are the most end of 2022, 54% of the global population (4.3
challenging to reach. billion people) owned a smartphone. Of the
4.6 billion people using mobile internet, almost
Most of those not using mobile internet 4 billion do so using a smartphone (49% of
live in areas covered by mobile broadband. the global population) and around 600 million
In 2022, 3 billion people (38% of the global people do so using a feature phone (8% of the
population) lived in areas covered by mobile global population). There are also 350 million
internet but did not use it. With mobile people who own a smartphone but do not use
internet adoption outpacing network mobile internet.
4
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
KEY FINDINGS
2023
4G and 5G continue to expand, but 2G and and literacy/digital skills. Safety & security
3G remain important sources of coverage concerns and lack of perceived relevance
in LMICs. While the overall broadband were reported less often but are also
coverage gap has remained broadly important barriers. For example, among
unchanged since 2021, the deployment of 4G smartphone owners, lack of perceived
and 5G continues to expand. Globally, 90% relevance is often cited as a top barrier to
of the population is now covered by 4G, and mobile internet adoption in several countries.
32% by 5G (up from 25% in 2021). Almost
three quarters of the 5G network expansion ffordability of devices and data
A
in 2022 was in Asia-Pacific, and there was continues to disproportionately impact the
particularly strong growth in 4G network underserved. Across LMICs, affordability
expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, of an entry-level, internet-enabled handset
most mobile operators will continue to remained relatively unchanged, while
maintain 2G and 3G networks for the affordability of data continues to improve
foreseeable future, with a significant portion across most regions. However, while the
of users continuing to use these networks, affordability of an entry-level device across all
particularly in LMICs. LMICs is equivalent to 16% of average monthly
income, this increases to 40% for the poorest
Data usage and network quality continue 40% of the population and 55% for the
to increase but significant differences poorest 20%. Across LMICs, it is equivalent to
remain between HICs and LMICs. Monthly 24% of average monthly income for women,
global mobile data traffic per user increased compared to 13% for men.
from 8.4 GB in 2021 to 11.3 GB in 2022 – the
largest absolute increase since it was first
tracked in 2015. Network quality improved
across all regions, driven by improved
networks and consumers migrating to 4G
or 5G. For the first time, all regions now
have average download speeds of at least
10 Mbps, while the global average download
speed increased from 27 Mbps to 34 Mbps.
HICs record download speeds four times
greater than those in LMICs.
5
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023 KEY FINDINGS
57%
GAP: IN MOST SURVEYED COUNTRIES
of the world’s But the rate of
population
are now using
mobile internet
adoption slowed 5% rural areas are >80% of the population
are aware of
29%
mobile internet
over the past year of the world's
population are mobile internet
4.6bn
still not covered by
mobile broadband
almost
less likely than those
people
400m PEOPLE
living in urban areas
USAGE GAP: JUST OVER to use mobile internet…
38% 3/4
of the world’s population
live within the footprint
of the growth in
mobile internet WOMEN LESS LIKELY
but awareness is lower
of a mobile broadband adoption in ARE THAN MEN TO for women and those
19%
2022
network but are not
USE MOBILE
using it came INTERNET living in rural areas
3bn 2/3
from
LMICs
The top barriers Affordability, A lack of and digital
WHERE to mobile internet particularly
95%
people OF THE adoption and use: of handsets
literacy skills
UNCONNECTED
of these do not own a phone POPULATION LIVE
In LDCs, only
54% of the world’s
population 4G/5G
25%
compared to
of the
population use
mobile internet (4.3bn people) coverage is expanding
own a smartphone
52%
AFFORDABILITY AFFORDABILITY AFFORDABILITY
and
across LMICs
overall
But 350m
people who own a
But
2G/3G
of entry-level
handsets has
remained generally
of entry-level data
plans continues
to improve across
of devices and
data continues to
disproportionately
85%
unchanged at most regions impact the
16%
across smartphone don’t use networks remain important underserved
HICs
mobile internet in many LMICs
GLOBAL NETWORK COVERAGE
2018 2022
6
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Introduction
7
INTRODUCTION
1.
Achieving universal and meaningful digital connectivity Setting a baseline and targets for 2030. United Nations Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital
Cooperation and ITU, 2021
2. The web tool is available at www.mobileconnectivityindex.com
3. Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan and Senegal.
4. For further details on the methodology for the MCI, see Mobile Connectivity Index Methodology. For further details on the methodology of the GSMA Consumer
Survey, see Appendix 1.
8
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
1. T
rends in
mobile internet
connectivity
More people than ever before are connecting to the
internet via mobile, but the rate of growth has slowed.
In 2022, while an additional 200 million people started
using mobile internet, this was lower than in the
previous two years. With 95% of the global population
now living within the footprint of a mobile broadband
network, further growth in coverage has been marginal.
The vast majority of those not connected live in areas
with mobile broadband coverage but are not using it.
9
1. TRENDS IN MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
At the end of 2022, some 57% of the global means almost 400 million people are still not
population (4.6 billion people) were using mobile covered by a mobile broadband network. The
internet – up from 35% in 2015 (see Figure 1). remaining uncovered communities, which
Although 200 million people started using are predominantly rural, poor and sparsely
mobile internet over the year, this represents a populated, are the most challenging to reach.
slowdown in the growth of mobile internet users
compared to 2021 and 2020, when 300 million Of the 3.4 billion people who remain unconnected
new users started using mobile internet each to mobile internet, almost 90% (3 billion) live in an
year. Just over three quarters of the growth in area already covered by mobile broadband but
mobile internet users in 2022 came from low- do not use mobile internet services. With mobile
and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 95% internet adoption outpacing network expansion,
of the unconnected population lives. this usage gap has been shrinking slowly, from
40% in 2021 to 38% in 2022. However, the usage
By the end of 2022, the share of the global gap remains almost eight times the size of the
population living in areas without mobile coverage gap.
broadband coverage stood at 5%. This coverage
gap has seen little change in recent years and
Figure 1
Global mobile internet connectivity, 2015–2022
8% 7% 6% 5% 5%
14% 11% 0.64bn 0.54bn 0.46bn 0.42bn 0.38bn
18% 0.85bn
1.09bn
1.36bn
40% 38%
42%
46% 45% 3.30bn 3.14bn 3.04bn
46% 3.45bn
3.51bn
46% 3.49bn
47% 3.47bn
3.46bn
55% 57%
49% 52% 4.35bn 4.56bn
43% 46% 4.07bn
35% 39% 3.51bn 3.76bn
3.24bn
2.95bn
2.59bn
10
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
There are two ways people can be ‘unconnected’: either they live in an area not covered by
mobile broadband, or they live in an area that is covered but they do not use mobile internet.
UNCONNECTED
11
1. TRENDS IN MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
Figure 2
State of mobile internet GLOBAL
connectivity by region, 2022
5% Coverage gap
380m
57% Connected
1% 4% 2% 4.56bn
5m 30m 10m
6% 15% 4% 2%
40m 180m 80m 40m
12
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
East Asia and Pacific has the third highest While the reduction in the coverage gap was
levels of connectivity after North America and not significant from a global perspective, there
Europe & Central Asia, with 71% of the region’s was a 2 pp reduction in the gap in Latin America
population using mobile internet (see Figure 3). and the Caribbean as well as in Sub-Saharan
However, this masks significant variation within Africa. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the
the region. In high-income countries (HICs), reduction in the coverage gap was mostly driven
including Japan, South Korea and Australia, 87% by Brazil, the region’s largest country, which
of the population used mobile internet as of accounts for 40% of the uncovered population
the end of 2022, compared to 69% for LMICs in in Latin America. In Sub-Saharan Africa, there
the region. If China is excluded, only 48% of the were notable coverage gains of almost 10 pp in
population in LMICs in the region used mobile Mozambique, Madagascar and Liberia.
internet. In the Pacific Islands, mobile internet
adoption is much lower (27%) and more than
one in five people remain uncovered (a larger
coverage gap than in Sub-Saharan Africa). 5
Similarly, in the Middle East and North Africa,
mobile internet adoption is much higher at 75%
in HICs, compared to 48% in LMICs in the region.
Figure 3
Mobile internet connectivity by region, 2020–2022
1% 1% 1% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
8% 6% 6% 5% 4% 5% 5% 4%
8%
14% 17% 15%
18% 16% 19%
22% 20% 19%
28%
33% 30%
32%
35% 33% 44%
49% 46% 52%
54%
58%
60% 59%
59%
83% 85%
81% 79%
76% 78% 71%
65% 68%
62%
57% 60%
51%
48% 44%
42%
45% 37%
23% 25%
22%
2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022
North America Europe East Asia Latin America Middle East South Asia Sub-Saharan
& Central Asia & Pacific & Caribbean & North Africa Africa
5. Further discussion on the coverage gap challenges in the Pacific Islands can be found in The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2020.
13
1. TRENDS IN MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
Figure 4
Mobile connectivity in LDCs, LMICs and HICs, 2020–2022
1% 1% 1% 5% 4% 4%
7% 6% 6% 19% 17% 15%
16% 14%
20%
41% 39%
44% 42% 44%
46%
60% 60%
60%
83% 85%
80%
52% 57%
50% 55%
47% 52%
2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022
14
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Almost three in four Figure 5 shows that, in 2022, 73% of adults globally
were using mobile internet (compared to 57% of
adults worldwide are the total population). When looking at adults aged
Figure 5
Mobile internet connectivity among adults aged 18 and above, 2020–2022
1% 1% 1% 2% 2% 1% 2% 2% 2%
5% 4% 4% 8% 6% 6% 5% 4% 5% 4% 4%
8% 7% 6% 8%
11% 11% 18% 16% 15%
14% 16%
20%
23% 15%
25% 23% 20% 17%
28% 29%
33% 31% 36% 33%
41%
43%
44%
44%
92% 93%
91%
87% 87% 83% 78%
73% 84% 79% 75%
71% 72%
67% 75%
64% 67% 63%
61% 60%
54%
42%
38% 40%
2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022
Global North Europe East Asia Latin America Middle East South Asia Sub-Saharan
America & Central Asia & Pacific & Caribbean & North Africa Africa
15
THE STATE
1. TRENDS
OF MOBILE
IN MOBILE
INTERNET
INTERNET
CONNECTIVITY
CONNECTIVITY
2023
More than half the mobile internet. Figure 6 shows that 49% of
the population are using mobile internet on a
world’s population are smartphone, while 5% have a smartphone but are
using smartphones, but not using it for the internet (around 350 million
smartphone users). These individuals should
not all are using mobile in theory face fewer barriers to accessing the
internet, given they already have a device and
internet being able to afford a smartphone is often a main
barrier to using the internet. However, evidence
from the GSMA Consumer Survey highlights that
For the first time, we are now able to report on the these individuals are still not using the internet
number of unique smartphone users globally and due to a number of barriers, including a lack of
by region. Evidence from the GSMA Consumer awareness of mobile internet, lack of perceived
Survey shows access to smartphones enables a relevance, lack of basic literacy and digital skills,
richer and broader connectivity experience, as safety and security concerns, and no network
smartphone owners are much more likely to be coverage (see Chapter 4).
aware of and adopt mobile internet, as well as use
it more frequently and for a wider variety of tasks.7 Figure 6 also shows that 8% of the global
population (or 14% of the total connected
At the end of 2022, there were 4.3 billion people population) are accessing internet using a feature
using a smartphone, equivalent to 54% of the phone, which equates to around 600 million
global population. However, not all are using mobile internet users.
7. For in-depth analysis, see Figure 9 in The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2022.
16
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
The majority of the usage To better understand and address the usage
gap, Figure 6 breaks down (into three groups)
gap comprises those those who live within the footprint of a mobile
Figure 6
State of connectivity, with connectivity and usage gap broken down by device type, 2022
GLOBAL
CONNECTED USAGE GAP COVERAGE GAP
5%
26%
8%
5%
8%
49%
Connected with Connected without Smartphone but Other phone but No device Coverage gap
smartphone smartphone not connected not connected
17
1. TRENDS IN MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
Figure 7
State of connectivity by region, with connectivity and usage gap by device type, 2022
2% 2% 4% 1% 4%
5% 6% 8%
10% 1% 15%
19% 5%
3%
26% 6% 24% 31% 5% 36%
4% 4%
5%
5% 6% 40%
8% 2%
5% 7%
10% 6%
8% 12%
9% 4%
12% 16%
49% 66% 76% 51% 42% 81%
4%
8%
31%
17%
Global East Asia Europe Latin America Middle East North South Asia Sub-Saharan
& Pacific & Central Asia & Caribbean & North Africa America Africa
Smartphone usage varies and the Middle East & North Africa, around one
in six mobile internet users do not connect with a
significantly by region smartphone.
Connectivity by device also varies significantly When looking at the usage gap, a significant
by region, as shown in Figure 7. In South Asia proportion of the population in South Asia (12%)
and Sub-Saharan Africa, 28% and 32% of mobile and Sub-Saharan Africa (16%) have a basic or
internet users respectively do not connect with feature phone, are using mobile services but are
a smartphone.8 However, this has declined not connected to mobile internet. In all regions
considerably over the past five years; in 2018, except Europe & Central Asia and North America,
half of mobile internet users in both regions at least two thirds of those covered by mobile
did not have a smartphone. The increase in broadband but not using it do not own a mobile.
smartphone adoption has likely been driven by
improved affordability and the expansion of
mobile broadband coverage. In Latin America
8. Taking the example of Sub-Saharan Africa, 8% of the population use the mobile internet but not on a smartphone, while 25% of the population use mobile internet.
The proportion of mobile internet subscribers not using a smartphone is therefore equal to 8/25 = 32%.
18
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Most smartphone owners At the end of 2022, 69% of the smartphones being
used by mobile internet users were 4G-enabled,
have a 4G device, but a while 17% were 5G-enabled. It is also worth noting
significant proportion that 14% can only access 3G, down from 31% in
2018. Figure 8 shows there is significant variation
still use 3G by region. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the majority
of smartphones used to access mobile internet
are still only 3G-capable (69%). The proportion
is also relatively high in Latin America and the
Caribbean (27%) and in the Middle East and North
Africa (33%). This large, albeit declining, user base
is an important factor to bear in mind as mobile
operators consider the merits of shutting down
legacy 3G networks. Shutting down is conditional
on being able to migrate existing 3G users to 4G or
5G (discussed further in Chapter 2).
Figure 8
Smartphone ownership of mobile internet users, by technology, 2022
2% 1% 0%
8% 3%
17%
29% 31%
41%
63%
71%
69%
58% 67%
27% 33%
14% 18%
1% 4% 8%
Global North Europe East Asia Latin America Middle East South Asia Sub-Saharan
America & Central Asia & Pacific & Caribbean & North Africa Africa
3G 4G 5G
19
1. TRENDS IN MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
The rural-urban gap in In 2022, 57% of adults living in rural areas in LMICs
were using mobile internet, compared to 80% of
mobile internet use those in urban areas. Rural populations are 29%
remains significant but less likely than their urban counterparts to use
mobile internet. Across LMICs, the rural-urban
has reduced slightly gap reduced significantly between 2017 and 2019,
shrinking from 43% to 33%. Since then, there has
been a small overall reduction each year, though
different trends can be seen at the regional level
(see Figure 9).
The ‘rural-urban gap’
refers to how much less The rural-urban gap in South Asia has returned
likely a person living in a to its 2019 level of around 30%, having increased
rural area is to use mobile in 2021. This was primarily driven by India, which
internet than a person saw a greater increase in the number of rural users
living in an urban area. compared to urban residents (the opposite to what
It is calculated as follows: occurred in 2020–2021). By contrast, there was an
increase in the rural-urban gap in the Middle East
% of urban % of rural and North Africa, driven by faster mobile internet
users users growth among urban residents. The rural-urban
Rural-urban
gap = % of urban
gaps in LMICs in the other regions were broadly
users unchanged in 2022, including in Sub-Saharan
Africa, which has the highest gap at 49%.
20
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Figure 9
Rural-urban gap in mobile internet use in LMICs, by region, 2017–2022
62%
55% 54%
49% 49%
47%
45%
43%
38% 38%
East Asia Europe Latin America Middle East South Asia Sub-Saharan All LMICs
& Pacific & Central Asia & Caribbean & North Africa Africa
21
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Smartphone ownership is a key driver of mobile countries surveyed, year on year, there has been
internet use. Across the countries surveyed, from greater growth in smartphone ownership in urban
2021 to 2022, smartphone ownership in rural areas areas. Across the markets surveyed, people living
largely remained flat – with the exception of Egypt, in rural areas remain significantly less likely to own
Indonesia and Mexico, where some growth was a smartphone than those in urban areas.
seen (see Figure 10). Meanwhile, in five of the 10
Figure 10
Smartphone ownership, 2021–2022
78%
74% 74%
68%
66% 66% 66% 65%
62% 62% 63%
61%
58%
56% 56%
53% 54%
52% 51% 51%
51% 49% 51%
48% 49% 49%
44%
42% 42%
39% 40% 40%
37% 37%
36% 35%
32% 33%
31%
27%
25% 25%25%
10%
Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural
Egypt Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Nigeria Senegal Bangladesh India Indonesia Pakistan Guatemala Mexico
2021 2022
Base: Adults aged 18 and above. N = from 327 to 864 for urban and from 221 to 1,482 for rural.
For further details on the questions asked, see Appendix 1.
Source: GSMA Consumer Survey 2021 and 2022
22
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
The gender gap in More women in LMICs are using mobile internet
than ever before, but their rate of adoption has
mobile internet use slowed for the second year in a row. While 61% of
remains relatively women across LMICs now use mobile internet, only
60 million women started using mobile internet in
unchanged 2022, compared to 75 million in 2021.9 Men’s rate
of adoption also slowed in 2022, highlighting that
progress on digital inclusion for all has stalled. The
gender gap in mobile internet remains relatively
unchanged; women in LMICs are 19% less likely
The gender gap in mobile than men to use it (see Figure 11), which equates
internet use refers to how to around 310 million fewer women than men. In
much less likely a woman 2022 there have been no significant changes in the
is to use mobile internet mobile internet gender gap in any region, including
than a man. South Asia where there have been notable
changes over the past few years.
It is calculated as follows:
There are 900 million women in LMICs who are
% of male % of female still not using mobile internet. Almost two thirds of
users users these live in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Gender
gap = % of male
Women in these regions remain the least likely to
use mobile internet compared to men, with gender
users
gaps of 41% and 36%, respectively.
9.
The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2022, GSMA, 2023
23
1. TRENDS IN MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
25%
Figure 11 23%
Gender25%
gap in mobile internet use across
20%
LMICs and by region, 2017-2022
23% 19%
Across LMICs overall 18%
20%
15% 19%
18%
25%
23% 15%
20%
19%
18%
15%
By region
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 66% 2022
57%
South Asia 50%
35% 66%
41% 57%
41% 50%
South Asia
35%
35% 41%
37%41%
Sub-Saharan 35%
35% 66%
Africa 35%
36% 57%
37%
South Asia 36% 50%
Sub-Saharan 35%
35%
Africa 35%
41%
20% 36%
41%
20% 36%
Middle East & 20% 35%
North Africa 18%
20% 37%
Sub-Saharan 15% 20% 35%
Middle East &
Africa 15% 20% 35%
North Africa 18% 36%
7% 15% 36%
10%
15%
East Asia & 8%
20%
Pacific 4%7%
20%
4% 10%
Middle East & 20%
East Asia & 6%
8%
North Africa 18%
Pacific 4% 15%
4%
7% 15%
6%
7%
Europe & 5%7%
Central Asia 5%7%10%
East Asia & 5%7%8%
Europe &
Pacific 4%5%5%
Central Asia 4%
5%
6%
5% 2017
5%
1%
5% 2018
Latin America & 1% 2019
Caribbean 0% 7% 2017
5%7% 2020
1%
1% 2018
2021
Europe &
Latin America & 5%
1% 2% 2019
2022
Central Asia
Caribbean 0%5%
5% 2020
1%5% 2021
2% 2023, GSMA, 2023
Source: The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2022
5% 2017
1% 2018
Latin America & 1% 2019 24
Caribbean 0% 2020
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
2. Network
coverage and
infrastructure
Globally, almost 400 million people live in areas
not yet covered by mobile broadband networks.
Reaching this uncovered population remains a
significant challenge. While 4G and 5G coverage
continue to expand, 2G and 3G networks remain
important sources of coverage in many LMICs.
25
THE STATE
2. NETWORK
OF MOBILE
COVERAGE
INTERNET
ANDCONNECTIVITY
INFRASTRUCTURE
2023
The coverage gap remains This flat trend underlines the economic and financial
challenge of deploying mobile broadband networks
relatively unchanged; to the world’s remaining uncovered areas. While
10. See for example Closing the Coverage Gap, GSMA, 2019, and Using Geospatial Analysis to Overhaul Connectivity Policies: How to Expand Mobile Internet
Coverage and Adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa, World Bank, 2022
11. See The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2022, GSMA, 2022
12. ‘Protracted crisis’ refers to countries that have had UN-coordinated country response plans or country components of regional response plans for at least five
consecutive years in 2022.
13. Global
Humanitarian Assistance Report 2023, Development Initiatives, 2023
14. ND-GAIN
Matrix, Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative, 2023
26
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Spotlight
15. For further analysis on this, see Using Geospatial Analysis to Overhaul Connectivity Policies: How to Expand Mobile Internet Coverage and Adoption in Sub-
Saharan Africa, World Bank, 2022
16. See for example The end of Project Loon: money talks, GSMA Intelligence, 2021
17. LEO satellites operate 300–2,000 km above Earth’s surface. By contrast, medium Earth orbits (MEOs) range from 2,000 to 35,000 km above Earth’s surface
(though most orbit between 18,000 and 24,000 km) and geosynchronous orbits (GEOs) operate at 35,786 km. This means LEO satellites can offer higher data
throughput and lower latencies compared to MEOs and GEOs. For further details on satellite communication services, see Connectivity from the Sky, GSMA
Intelligence, 2021
18.
G lobal Mobile Trends, GSMA Intelligence, 2023
19. “Starlink Resurgence? Speeds Increase in Europe and Oceania”, GSMA, March 2023
20.
https://www.starlink.com/map
21.
“ Starlink Resurgence? Speeds Increase in Europe and Oceania”, Ookla, February 2023
22.
https://starlinkinsider.com/starlink-price/
27
2. NETWORK COVERAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Spotlight continued
areas. Historically, the cost of satellite backhaul send and receive signals to/from a mobile
has been prohibitive for operators. A World Bank phone. While the next generation of satellites
and GSMA study in 2022 showed that the annual will have bigger antennas, in the short term most
opex of providing satellite backhaul for a 3G D2D services are likely to consist of SMS. In the
site in Sub-Saharan Africa was four times higher medium to longer term, they could offer 3G-like
than for 2G, while for 4G it was eight times speeds of 3–5 Mbps.25
higher. 23 Although deployment of larger LEO
constellations could reduce the cost of satellite The second challenge is regulatory, particularly in
backhaul solutions, it remains to be seen whether the use of spectrum. Some D2D solutions intend
it can sustainably close the coverage gap in to use mobile operator spectrum frequencies,
low-income countries, especially as network while others intend to use spectrum assigned for
deployments in rural areas can still be prohibitive satellite use. The first approach faces a question
due to high base station and energy costs. around whether terrestrial frequencies can be used
from space, given it is not currently permitted in
Lastly, there is the possibility of providing the Radio Regulations, and whether spectrum
connectivity to a mobile device directly from interference across borders can be effectively
a satellite, which avoids the deployment of managed. The second approach poses questions
terrestrial base stations. The solution would around the regulatory conditions for satellite and
effectively enable a consumer to connect to mobile spectrum, and whether or not they should
the internet using their smartphone, without be licensed in a similar manner, as well as potential
purchasing a dish or large receiving equipment. co-existence and interference challenges.26
While this D2D technology is not new, a key
recent development is that the new 5G new It is encouraging that the latest developments
radio (NR) standard from 3GPP24 incorporates in the satellite market are commercially led, with
integration of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). demand increasing for satellite broadband in
This means that standard mobile devices will be higher-income countries and mobile operators
able to connect seamlessly with both traditional willing to work with satellite operators to deliver
base stations as well as satellite systems when more cost-effective connectivity solutions.
out of terrestrial connectivity. However, devices However, in the context of extending broadband
connecting to satellites will require a new chipset, networks to the most remote and poor areas
so it will take time for D2D to grow, even when of low-income countries, and given that D2D
the technology is in place, as it will be partly remains in the early stages of development,
driven by handset replacement cycles. satellite technology is unlikely to be able to close
this coverage gap in the short term.
While D2D technology could help close the
coverage gap in rural and remote areas, there
remain two key challenges. The first is technical;
D2D requires larger antennas on satellites to
23.
Using Geospatial Analysis to Overhaul Connectivity Policies: How to Expand Mobile Internet Coverage and Adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa, World Bank, 2022
24. 3GPP is the standards body responsible for developing technical specifications that are developed into global standards for 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G.
25.
Satellite 2.0: going direct to device, GSMA Intelligence, 2022
26.
Challenges of Using the L-Band and S-Band for Direct-to-Cellular Satellite 5G-6G NTN Systems, Pastukh et al, 2023
28
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Spotlight
Increasing mobile coverage and use globally The humanitarian coverage gap – the proportion
has transformed the way people in crisis of people in need of humanitarian assistance who
communicate, find information, earn a living live outside of network coverage – has received
and even relax. 27 Increasingly, life-saving insufficient attention, and there has been little
humanitarian assistance and information is analysis aimed specifically at understanding
delivered using mobile networks. Furthermore, this issue. A 2016 study by the United Nations
mobile-enabled services are increasingly central Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimated that
to mitigating the impact of climate change on refugees living in rural areas were twice as
vulnerable populations. 28 likely to live in uncovered areas as the global
population34 This analysis was restricted to only
Despite crisis-affected people being among the refugees, a group that has grown 71% since then.
groups most likely to benefit from connectivity, This suggests a refreshed analysis is needed
data suggests they are disproportionately – one that also looks at the needs of people
likely to live in areas without mobile broadband requiring humanitarian assistance more broadly.
coverage. In 2022, there were 36 countries with
a coverage gap of 10% or more, which is twice The GSMA is currently working on modelling
the global average (for a list of the countries, to help fill this evidence gap and to identify
see Appendix 3). Fifteen of these countries are solutions tailored to crisis-affected contexts.
experiencing a protracted humanitarian crisis, Initial results should be published in early 2024.
such as acute hunger or active conflict, 29 and
29 have a high level of vulnerability to climate
change but a low level of readiness, indicating a
heightened risk to extreme natural hazards30 This
means almost half the countries in this category
of climate risk also have a coverage gap of 10%
or more.
27.
The Digital Worlds of Displacement-Affected Communities, GSMA, 2022
28. The
Role of Digital and Mobile-Enabled Solutions in Addressing Climate Change, GSMA, 2021
29. Global
Humanitarian Assistance Report 2023, Development Initiatives, 2023
30.
ND-GAIN Matrix, Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative, 2023
31. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre’s Global Internal Displacement Database
32. UNHCR’s Refugee Data Finder
33.
Global Humanitarian Assistance Report 2023, Development Initiatives, 2023
34.
Connecting Refugees, UNHCR, 2016
29
THE STATE
2. NETWORK
OF MOBILE
COVERAGE
INTERNET
ANDCONNECTIVITY
INFRASTRUCTURE
2023
30
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
While the coverage gap Although the overall broadband coverage gap
remains flat, the deployment of 4G and 5G
remains flat, 4G and 5G continues to expand. 5G is now the focus in most
networks continue to high-income countries and large middle-income
countries such as China, India and Brazil. Global
expand 5G coverage increased from 25% in 2021 to 32%
in 2022, meaning 2.6 billion people are now
covered by a 5G network (see Figure 12). Of the
600 million additional people covered by 5G in
2022, almost three quarters were in Asia Pacific.
Figure 12
Global population coverage by technology, 2015–2022
100%
75%
50%
No coverage
25% 2G
3G
4G
0% 5G
31
2. NETWORK COVERAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Figure 13
Population coverage by technology and region, 2015–2022
100% 100%
75% 75%
50% 50%
25% 25%
0% 0%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
100% 100%
75% 75%
50% 50%
25% 25%
0% 0%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
100% 100%
75% 75%
50% 50%
25% 25%
0% 0%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Sub-Saharan Africa
100% No coverage
75% 2G
3G
50% 4G
25% 5G
0%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
32
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
35. Source: GSMA Intelligence, based on operators’ announced plans for shutdowns
36. Spectrum
Navigator, Q1 2023, GSMA Intelligence, 2023
37. Mobile network sunset: trends, regional variations and implications for IoT, GSMA Intelligence, 2022
33
2. NETWORK COVERAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Figure 14
Share of mobile connections with operators that have or are expected to shut down
2G and 3G networks
94% 94%
86%
66% 67%
47% 48%
43%
34%
30%
26%
23%
19%
Global East Asia South Asia Europe Latin America North America Middle East Sub-Saharan
& Pacific & Central Asia & Caribbean & North Africa Africa
2022 2025
34
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
35
2. NETWORK COVERAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Figure 15
Average download and upload speeds in HICs and LMICs, 2018-2022
80 14
60 11
HICs
0 0 Sub-Saharan Africa
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Source: GSMA Intelligence analysis, based on Speedtest Intelligence® data provided by Ookla®
36
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
3. H
ow people
are using
mobile internet
Over the last few years, mobile internet use has
become more frequent and across a wider range
of activities. Communication remains the main
activity people do on a mobile. During the pandemic
lockdowns, there was a significant increase in
the use of mobile to access educational services,
healthcare information and government services, and
to apply for jobs. In 2022, we saw contractions in
these activities, likely reflecting the end of pandemic
restrictions and a return to face-to-face interaction.
37
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
People use mobile internet to meet a range of users were using it daily, ranging from 65% in
needs, from communication and entertainment Ethiopia to 93% in Egypt. However, this varies by
to work and education. 42 Use of mobile to location, with urban mobile internet users more
perform activities varies by country, gender and likely to use it on a daily basis than their rural
geography. To better understand mobile internet counterparts. Across the countries surveyed,
usage in LMICs, the GSMA Consumer Survey asks between 71% and 96% of urban mobile internet
mobile internet users what they do online and users report accessing it daily, while between
how frequently they do it. 43 49% and 92% of rural mobile internet users
report doing so.
The vast majority of mobile internet users are
using it on a daily basis, showing that once
people adopt the technology, it tends to become
integral to daily life. Across the countries
surveyed, on average, 82% of mobile internet
42. For further details on the different needs internet can fulfil, see Understanding people’s mobile digital skills needs, GSMA, 2021
43. Mobile internet users were asked how frequently they did any of a list of activities on a mobile phone. This list is not exhaustive and has changed over the years.
For further details, see Appendix 1. Trends are presented for six markets for which we have data across the four years. In 2022, 12 markets were surveyed. While
some of these activities can be done exclusively using mobile internet, others (such as playing games, using a mobile money account or managing and paying
bills) could be done using standard GSM.
38
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Figure 16
ctivities that mobile internet users report having done at least once on a mobile
A
phone, 2022
Percentage of mobile internet users
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Base: Mobile internet users aged 18 and above. N = from 264 to 1,008 across the 12 countries surveyed in 2022. Min Mean Max
Source: GSMA Consumer Survey 2022
39
THE STATE
3. HOW
OF MOBILE
PEOPLEINTERNET
ARE USING
CONNECTIVITY
MOBILE INTERNET
2023
44. In the remaining three countries, male mobile internet users were equally likely as female counterparts to have done so.
45. With the exception of playing free games in Ethiopia (34% of rural mobile internet users versus 18% of urban users) and Bangladesh (27% of rural mobile internet
users versus 16% of urban users) and listening to free music in Bangladesh (22% of rural mobile internet users versus 16% of urban users).
46. Exceptions are ordering goods and services in Egypt, managing bills in Senegal and Pakistan, and accessing government services in Pakistan.
47. Exceptions are playing free-to-play games on a daily basis in Pakistan and reading news on a daily basis in Bangladesh.
40
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Figure 17
requency of activities by mobile internet users on a mobile phone in countries
F
surveyed, 2019–2022
Percentage of mobile internet users48
2019
2020
Education
2021
2022 12% 16% 13%
2019
Health 2020
2021
2022 6% 10% 10%
2019
2020
Government
services 2021
2022 5% 7% 10%
2019
2020
Job application
2021
2022 4% 8% 10%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 55%
Base: Mobile internet users aged 18 and above. N = from 285 to 1,008 across the six countries surveyed in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Source: GSMA Consumer Survey 2019-2022
48. Note: the average use of different activities across surveyed countries in Figure 16 does not match Figure 17, as Figure 17 is based on data for six countries that
were surveyed 2019–2022 (Bangladesh, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan). Figure 16 covers all 12 countries surveyed in 2022. Additionally, Figure 16
presents data for anyone that had ever used mobile for each activity, whereas Figure 17 shows only data up to monthly use.
41
THE STATE
3. HOW
OF MOBILE
PEOPLEINTERNET
ARE USING
CONNECTIVITY
MOBILE INTERNET
2023
42
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Those living in rural decrease. This was especially true for women
areas are more likely who live in rural areas, are less well educated
and older. 49 More generally, rural mobile
than those in urban internet users were more likely than their
urban counterparts report that their internet
areas to have reduced use had decreased. This is most clearly seen
in the Sub-Saharan Africa countries surveyed
their mobile internet (see Figure 18). Furthermore, across most
use in the last year, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin American
countries surveyed, urban mobile internet users
particularly women were more likely than rural counterparts to
report that their internet use had increased.
The differences were less pronounced in the
In 2022 the survey asked people who had used Asian countries surveyed, while in Egypt there
mobile internet in the past year whether they was no discernible difference.
thought their usage had increased or decreased
over that period. These changes may have been The ongoing economic crisis is likely contributing
in their data use, frequency of use and/or variety to the reductions in mobile internet use as it
of use cases. becomes less affordable. This crisis will likely
continue to affect women and rural populations
In nine of the 12 countries surveyed, most disproportionately, yet these underserved
respondents reported a change in how groups have a lot to gain from equal access –
much they used mobile internet. However, for example, in accessing goods and services
their experiences diverged based on their remotely and obtaining educational or healthcare
demographic. For example, women were less information remotely. Targeted efforts are
likely than men to report increasing their mobile required to ensure they are not left behind.
internet use and were more likely to report a
49. The
Mobile Gender Gap Report 2023, GSMA, 2023
43
THE STATE
3. HOW
OF MOBILE
PEOPLEINTERNET
ARE USING
CONNECTIVITY
MOBILE INTERNET
2023
Figure 18
Change in mobile internet use among mobile internet users
Percentage of those who have used mobile internet in the past year
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural
Egypt Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Nigeria Senegal Bangladesh India Indonesia Pakistan Guatemala Mexico
Increased a lot Increased a little Stayed the same Decreased a little Decreased a lot Don’t know
or not changed
Base: Adults aged 18 and above who have used mobile internet in the past year. N = from 143 to 746 for urban and from 91 to 655 for rural.
Source: GSMA Consumer Survey 2021 and 2022
44
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
4. K
ey barriers to
mobile internet
adoption and use
The number of connected people continues to increase
each year. However, 42% of adults in LMICs are still not
using mobile internet despite being covered by a mobile
broadband network. A range of reasons explain why
people are not adopting mobile internet. Key factors
include not having the necessary knowledge and skills,
not being able to afford an internet-enabled phone,
concerns about safety and security online, and a lack of
relevant content and services.
45
4. KEY BARRIERS TO MOBILE INTERNET ADOPTION AND USE
This chapter explores key barriers that prevent strongly felt by women in some LMICs, and the
people from adopting and using mobile internet: internet using too much mobile phone battery.
awareness, affordability, literacy and digital skills, Furthermore, people face structural inequalities
safety and security, and relevance (see Figure 19 that underpin these barriers and translate into
and Appendix 1 for methodology). disparities in adoption and use. These include
differences in income and education, and
While barriers related to access – beyond access restrictive social norms. People experience these
to networks covered in Chapter 2 – are not barriers and combinations of them in unique,
examined in detail here, they remain significant complex ways. A comprehensive response is
challenges for some. Examples of access barriers required to address them effectively.
include family disapproval, which is particularly
Figure 19
Barriers to mobile internet adoption and use
Lack of awareness Inability to afford Concerns about the Lack of relevant Lack of access to
and understanding of an internet-enabled negative aspects and content, products and networks and enablers,
mobile internet and handset, data plans or risks of mobile and services that meet such as internet-
its benefits, and lack other service fees. the internet, such as users' needs and enabled handsets,
of digital skills and harassment, theft, capabilities. agents and formal ID,
literacy. fraud and information or devices and services
security. are not accessible or
easy to use.
Mobile users who were already aware of mobile emerged as the top barrier, 51 while in the Latin
internet but did not use it were asked what American countries safety and security concerns
barriers were preventing them from adopting were a higher reported barrier than in other
it. 50 Overall, barriers related to affordability countries surveyed (see Appendix 3). 52
(particularly of internet-enabled handsets) and
literacy & digital skills were most often reported In general, the barriers preventing female and
and ranked as top barriers (See Figure 20). The male mobile users who are aware of mobile
relevance and safety & security barriers were internet from adopting it are quite similar. 53
reported less often but still play important roles. However, women tend to experience these
barriers more acutely than men due to structural
In most African countries surveyed, affordability, inequalities, including disparities in access to
primarily of internet-enabled handsets, was the education and income. Furthermore, analysis
top reported barrier preventing people from shows that even when women have the same
adopting mobile internet. In the South Asian education, income, literacy and employment
countries surveyed, literacy and digital skills levels as men, they are still less likely to use
50. Survey respondents that were aware of mobile internet but had not used it in the previous three months were asked what stops them from using the internet on a
mobile phone, in three stages: 1. For each of the possible reasons, please indicate whether this is something that stops you at all from using the internet on a mobile
phone. 2. Which, if any, of those factors would you say are the most important reasons stopping you from using the internet on a mobile phone? 3. Which one of
those factors would you say is the single most important reason stopping you from using the internet on a mobile phone?
51. Note: in Indonesia, affordability was ranked top above literacy and digital skills.
52. Note:
a limited number of countries were surveyed per region, and barriers can vary significantly by country within regions. Caution is therefore advised in
extrapolating these findings broadly across regions.
53.
The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2023, GSMA, 2023
46
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
mobile internet, suggesting other issues are at Top reported barriers also vary by device type,
play, such as discrimination and social norms. 54 and not all smartphone owners are using mobile
There is a substantial mobile internet gender internet. In Nigeria, smartphone owners identified
gap, meaning millions more women than men difficulties with reading and writing as the top
experience these barriers. Addressing the overall barrier. In India, concerns around stolen
barriers is therefore likely to disproportionately or misused identity and private information were
enable more women to go online. cited as the top overall barrier for smartphone
owners. In Egypt, Kenya and Bangladesh, a
Similarly, the top barriers for both urban and perceived lack of relevance was the top overall
rural respondents across survey countries were barrier to mobile internet adoption among
affordability and literacy & digital skills. While smartphone owners.
safety and security remains the third highest
barrier overall for urban respondents across the
countries surveyed, relevance is third for rural
respondents.
Figure 20
Top reported barriers to mobile internet adoption in surveyed countries among mobile
users who are aware of mobile internet but do not use it
1 Affordability
Base: Adults aged 18 and above who have used a mobile phone in the last three months but have not used mobile internet in the last three months on any device,
despite being aware of mobile internet (excludes mobile users who are not aware of mobile internet).
Based on the single most important barrier to using mobile internet as identified by mobile users who are aware of mobile internet but have not used it in the last
three months prior to the survey. For more details, see Appendix 3.
Source: GSMA Consumer Survey 2022
54. “Does just being a woman reduce the likelihood of using mobile?”, GSMA Mobile for Development, August 2020
47
4. KEY BARRIERS TO MOBILE INTERNET ADOPTION AND USE
Figure 21
Proportion of the adult population aged 18 and above who are aware of mobile internet
71% 72%
69%
63%
46%
Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural
Egypt Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Nigeria Senegal Bangladesh India Indonesia Pakistan Guatemala Mexico
Base: Adults aged 18 and above. N = from 329 to 864 for urban and from 232 to 1,482 for rural.
Note: A person is considered aware of mobile internet if they have either used mobile internet before or not used mobile internet but are aware they can access the
internet on a mobile phone.
Source: GSMA Consumer Survey 2022
48
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Lack of literacy and Illiteracy is reported more often as the top barrier
to mobile internet adoption across four of the 12
digital skills is a top countries surveyed, see Figure 22 (Egypt, Nigeria,
57. This barrier is a composite of five sub-barriers that include functional literacy as well as mobile-related digital skills. For further details, see Appendix 1.
58. The GSMA Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit (MISTT)
49
4. KEY BARRIERS TO MOBILE INTERNET ADOPTION AND USE
Figure 22
Proportion of mobile users aware of mobile internet but not using it who reported literacy
and digital skills as a top barrier, 2022
25% 2%
2%
5%
7% 22%
21%
20%
1% 3% 18%
17% 4% 2%
16% 2% 3%
15% 15% 1% 6%
14% 3%
2% 1% 5%
2% 2% 3%
11% 11% 1% 8%
4% 3% 5%
2% 1% 5% 1%
2% 8% 5%
2% 3% 7%
4% 6% 3%
5% 1% 5%
1% 4% 4%
3% 3% 3% 3%
2%
Basic Digital Basic Digital Basic Digital Basic Digital Basic Digital Basic Digital Basic Digital Basic Digital Basic Digital Basic Digital Basic Digital Basic Digital
literacy skills literacy skills literacy skills literacy skills literacy skills literacy skills literacy skills literacy skills literacy skills literacy skills literacy skills literacy skills
Egypt Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Nigeria Senegal Bangladesh India Indonesia Pakistan Guatemala Mexico
Reading/writing Do not know how Do not know Do not have time to Not sufficient
difficulty to access internet how to use a learn how to access support in learning
on a mobile mobile internet on a mobile to use internet
Base: Adults aged 18 and above who have used a mobile phone in the last three months but not used mobile internet in the last three months, despite being aware of
mobile internet. N= from 83 to 379.
Note: For further details on the questions asked, see Appendix 1. A person is considered aware of mobile internet if they have either used it before or have not used it
but are aware they can access the internet on a mobile phone.
Source: GSMA Consumer Survey 2022.
50
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
59. Income is an important factor to consider. If two consumers with different levels of income face the same handset and data costs, the consumer with the lower
income will be less likely to purchase and will remain unconnected.
60. Changes in affordability over time can therefore be the result of changes in the costs of handsets and data, an individual’s income, or both.
61. For more details see Making internet-enabled phones more affordable in low- and middle-income countries, GSMA, 2022
62. For further details on the methodology for gathering device prices, see the GSMA Mobile Connectivity Index Methodology.
51
4. KEY BARRIERS TO MOBILE INTERNET ADOPTION AND USE
Figure 23a
Median cost and affordability of an internet-enabled handset across LMICs, 2018–2022
20.8%
60 20%
19.2% 19.0%
17.0%
16.3%
45 $54 15%
$45 $48
$46
30
$42 10%
15 5%
Device cost
Device
affordability
0 0% (% of monthly GDP)
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Figure 23b
Median affordability of an internet-enabled handset across LMICs by region, 2018–2022
40%
30%
Figure 23c
Change in device affordability between 2021 and 2022
6%
16% 23% 25% 28%
39% 38%
53% 23%
58% 38% 36%
17%
33%
54%
41% 43% 38% 37%
26% 30%
East Asia Europe Latin America Middle East South Asia Sub-Saharan All LMICs
& Pacific & Central Asia & Caribbean & North Africa Africa
Note: Price of handset is the cheapest internet-enabled feature phone, smart feature phone or smartphone available (at the time of collecting data) sold by mobile
operators or mobile phone retailers (it does not reflect prices for second-hand or black markets handsets).
Source: GSMA Intelligence calculations based on pricing data from Tarifica.
52
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
ability and willingness to rate doubled to 8.5% in 2022. Analysis by the IMF
shows that while energy and food costs drove
acquire new devices higher inflation in 2021 (to 4.3%) and continued
to become more expensive in 2022, other price
items also increased that year, driving increased
While the affordability of entry-level devices inflation. 66 In some large LMICs, inflation reached
remained generally unchanged or otherwise much higher levels, such as 19% in Nigeria, 34% in
improved in most countries in 2022, shipments Ethiopia, 49% in Iran and 72% in Türkiye. This can
of smartphone devices declined significantly impact device affordability for certain population
in 2022, by more than 10%.63 Market analysis segments by reducing real wages if incomes
also suggests shipments continued to decline do not keep up with inflation 67 or by making
in the first quarter of 2023, including in Africa consumers reluctant to acquire a new device if
and South Asia.64 Many of these devices would they perceive a high risk of continued inflation.
have been replacement handsets for existing
smartphone users, including higher cost, premium This wider economic outlook could also partly
smartphones; some of these have increased in explain the slowdown in mobile internet
price due to either higher costs or because users connectivity growth in 2022, as the unconnected
are upgrading to more expensive 5G devices. were less able to afford a device and the monthly
Consequently, although total smartphone sales data cost, even though the latter continued to fall.
have declined, there has been growth in the more
expensive premium segment.65
63. Source: IDC and Counterpoint Research. See for example "Smartphone Shipments Suffer the Largest-Ever Decline with 18.3% Drop in the Holiday Quarter and a
11.3% Decline in 2022, According to IDC Tracker", IDC, January 2023; and "2022 Global Smartphone Shipments Lowest Since 2013; Apple Regained No. 1 Rank
with Highest-Ever Operating Profit Share of 85%", Counterpoint Research, February 2023.
64. Source
IDC: See for example "Africa's Smartphone Market Falls to New Low as Inflation Stifles Demand", IDC, June 2023; and "India Smartphone Market
Declined by 16% YoY in 1Q23, says IDC", IDC, May 2023.
65. See for example "Global Smartphone Market Declines for Eighth Straight Quarter; Premium Segment Growth a Silver Lining", Counterpoint Research, July 2023.
66. World
Economic Outlook Report 2022: Countering the Cost-of-Living Crisis, IMF, 2022
67. Global
Wage Report 2022-2023, ILO, 2022. The study shows that, in 2022, for 39 countries with available data, 30 saw real monthly wages fall due to higher
inflation. Wage or salaried workers represent 53% of global employment.
53
4. KEYTHE
BARRIERS
STATE OF
TO MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
ADOPTION AND2023
USE
68. For further details on the methodology for gathering mobile data prices, see the GSMA Mobile Connectivity Index Methodology.
69. Aspirational
targets for 2030, ITU, 2022. While the ITU’s target refers to affordability based on GNI per capita, we use GDP per capita to incorporate more up-
to-date data on income per capita.
54
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Figure 24a
Median cost and affordability of 1 GB data across LMICs, 2018–2022
2.1%
2.0%
6 1.9% 2.0%
1.6%
4.5 $5.20 1.5%
1.4%
$54
$4.80
$45 $48
$4.20 $42
3
$3.90 1.0%
$3.40
1.5 0.5%
1 GB cost
1 GB affordability
(% of monthly GDP)
0 0.0%
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Figure 24b
Median affordability of 1 GB data across LMICs by region, 2018–2022
5%
4%
3%
Europe & Central Asia
Figure 24c
Change in 1 GB affordability between 2021 and 2022
5% 11% 6% 13% 12% 8%
38%
38% 46%
39% 38% 45%
71%
63% 56%
50% 50% 43% 47%
24%
East Asia Europe Latin America Middle East South Asia Sub-Saharan All LMICs
& Pacific & Central Asia & Caribbean & North Africa Africa
Significantly improved No significant change Significantly worsened
Note: Price of 1 GB is the price of the cheapest plan available (at the time of collecting data) to purchase at least 1 GB of data per month. Further details on how
pricing data is gathered can be found in the Mobile Connectivity Index Methodology. To determine affordability, we divide the price by monthly GDP per capita
(sourced from IMF World Economic Outlook).
Source: GSMA Intelligence calculations based on pricing data from Tarifica and ITU
55
4. KEY BARRIERS TO MOBILE INTERNET ADOPTION AND USE
Figure 25a
Median cost and affordability of 5 GB data across LMICs, 2018–2022
3.9%
12 3.5% 4.0%
3.0% 3.1%
$11.10
9 3.0%
$10.50 2.5%
$9.00
6 $7.80 2.0%
$6.90
3 1.0%
5 GB cost
5 GB affordability
(% of monthly GDP)
0 0.0%
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Figure 25b
Median affordability of 5 GB data across LMICs by region, 2018–2022
12%
10%
8%
6%
Europe & Central Asia
East Asia & Pacific
4%
Latin America & Caribbean
Middle East & North Africa
2%
South Asia
Sub-Saharan Africa
0%
Figure 25c
Change in 5 GB affordability between 2021 and 2022
6% 5% 6%
17% 13%
35%
38% 46%
38% 45%
75% 39%
65% 56%
44% 50% 50% 49%
25%
East Asia Europe Latin America Middle East South Asia Sub-Saharan All LMICs
& Pacific & Central Asia & Caribbean & North Africa Africa
Significantly improved No significant change Significantly worsened
Note: Price of 5 GB is the price of the cheapest plan available (at the time of collecting data) to purchase at least 5 GB of data per month. Further details on how
pricing data is gathered can be found in the Mobile Connectivity Index Methodology. To determine affordability, we divide the price by monthly GDP per capita
(sourced from IMF World Economic Outlook).
Source: GSMA Intelligence calculations based on pricing data from Tarifica and ITU
56
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
70.
Making internet-enabled phones more affordable in low- and middle-income countries, GSMA, 2022
57
4. KEY BARRIERS TO MOBILE INTERNET ADOPTION AND USE
Figure 26
Affordability of 1 GB, 5 GB and entry-level internet-enabled device for poorest 20% and
40%, and men and women, by region in 2022
94.8%
Median device affordability by segment
84.3%
65.9% 68.1%
53.5% 55.0%
51.0% 50.1%
40.6% 42.4% 40.2%
34.6% 35.6%
31.0% 33.2%
27.6% 22.4% 29.7%
17.9% 22.3% 23.8% 23.7%
19.2% 18.8% 18.5%
13.2% 16.3%
13.8% 12.6% 11.5% 12.7% 11.9% 12.7%
10.1%
6.7%
East Asia Europe Latin America Middle East South Asia Sub-Saharan All LMICs
& Pacific & Central Asia & Caribbean & North Africa Africa
8.6%
7.2%
4.8%
4.0% 3.9% 4.1% 3.9% 3.9%
3.5% 3.6%
3.1% 3.2% 3.1%
1.9%
1.4% 1.3% 1.5% 1.5% 1.2% 1.4%
1.1% 1.0% 1.2% 1.0% 0.9% 0.9%
0.8%0.6% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8%
0.5% 0.5% 0.3%
East Asia Europe Latin America Middle East South Asia Sub-Saharan All LMICs
& Pacific & Central Asia & Caribbean & North Africa Africa
17.7%
13.5%
8.8%
7.1% 6.4%
6.2% 5.9% 6.1%
4.8% 4.9% 5.5% 5.4%
3.8% 3.6%
2.2% 2.4% 1.9%2.3% 1.4% 2.4%
3.0% 2.3% 2.8%2.2% 2.5% 1.9%
1.6% 1.6% 1.8% 1.2% 1.3%
1.0% 0.8% 0.8%
East Asia Europe Latin America Middle East South Asia Sub-Saharan All LMICs
& Pacific & Central Asia & Caribbean & North Africa Africa
Note: Data on incomes for the poorest 20% and 40% of the population and men and women is based on information sourced from the World Bank, World Inequality
Database, UN and the IMF World Economic Outlook.
Source: GSMA Intelligence calculations based on pricing data from Tarifica and ITU.
58
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Figure 27
Proportion of mobile users aware of mobile internet who report
barriers related to safety and security in LMICs, 2021
36%
31%
17%
24%
12%
25%
17%
17%
15% 13%
9%
7% 7% 10%
13% 7%
6% 32%
11%
3% 9%
6% 8%
21% 6% 5% 7% 7% 21%
1% 18% 6%
2% 5% 7%
2% 3% 14%
4% 4% 2% 4% 1% 2% 3% 2%
9% 8% 1% 3% 7% 8% 9%
1% 5% 6% 2% 1% 6% 6% 2%
3% 3% 1% 4% 2% 1% 3% 1% 2%
Important
Top
Important
Top
Important
Top
Important
Top
Important
Top
Important
Top
Important
Top
Important
Top
Important
Top
Important
Top
Important
Top
Important
Top
Egypt Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Nigeria Senegal Bangladesh India Indonesia Pakistan Guatemala Mexico
Base: Adults aged 18 and above who have used a mobile phone in the last three months but not used mobile internet in the last three months, despite being aware of
it. N = from 87 to 379 for important barrier and from 83 to 379 for top barrier.
Note: While respondents were only allowed to select one top barrier, they were allowed to select multiple important barriers. The proportion of respondents
selecting each barrier as important is therefore not mutually exclusive.
Source: GSMA Consumer Survey 2022
71. While respondents were only allowed to select one top barrier, they were allowed to select multiple important barriers. In Figure 27, the proportion of respondents
selecting each barrier as important is therefore not mutually exclusive. Hence the percentage of respondents stated in the text will be smaller than if the bars in the
chart were summed. The data is presented in this way to illustrate the prominence of each of the three safety and security concerns and to show how – even though
in many countries safety and security is not the top barrier overall – these concerns still play a big role in preventing people from adopting mobile internet.
59
4. KEYTHE
BARRIERS
STATE OF
TO MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
ADOPTION AND2023
USE
adoption and plays a role in both Africa and Asia. This holds true for both
urban and rural respondents in these regions.
in other key barriers While it is not reported as significantly as
affordability or literacy and digital skills as a top
barrier, it is commonly reported as a barrier more
The availability and awareness of online content generally and one that needs to be addressed
and services that are accessible and relevant to in step with other barriers, through providing
the local population is a key enabler of mobile locally relevant content and ensuring that a
internet adoption and usage. Without it, people broad range of languages are covered to make
will not have a compelling reason to invest content accessible (see Spotlight: The impact of
time and resources into accessing the internet. digital language support).73
Furthermore, relevance plays an important role
in other key barriers to adoption. For instance, It is also worth noting that being aware of mobile
availability of relevant content and services internet does not necessarily translate to being
is also a key factor in perceived value and in aware of services that are relevant.
driving willingness to pay – a key component of
affordability.72
72. Making
internet-enabled phones more affordable in low- and middle-income countries, GSMA, 2022
73. While
we do not have an expansive dataset covering this analysis for smartphone owners in a wider set of countries, the apparent prominence of relevance as a
key barrier to mobile internet adoption among smartphone owners not using mobile internet is interesting to note and warrants further research.
60
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Spotlight
61
4. KEYTHE
BARRIERS
STATE OF
TO MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
ADOPTION AND2023
USE
Spotlight continued
The exclusion of these languages from the languages may also act as a disincentive to
digital sphere has wider socioeconomic developing local mobile apps if local developers
implications, as speakers of such languages cannot realise sufficient economies of scale.
have little or no access to e-government Furthermore, given that 40% of languages are
services, online education and health services, currently endangered,79 there is an increased
and social interaction. Meanwhile, enterprises risk that many will fall out of use if they are not
have narrower market access and lose out brought online.
on business opportunities. The diversity of
Figure 28
Average digital language support score by region in the Mobile Connectivity Index 2022
97
81
72
54 52
32 29
North America Europe Latin America East Asia South Asia Sub-Saharan Middle East
& Central Asia & Caribbean & Pacific Africa & North Africa
There is a risk that the digital language divide will Fortunately, new AI-driven technologies also
become further entrenched, especially with the have the potential to close the digital language
increasing use of AI and development of large- divide – for example, through the use of natural
language models such as ChatGPT and Bard, language processing and machine translation to
which are trained on publicly available text on bring more minority and indigenous languages
the internet that already has a strong English online. 80 While these technologies remain in their
language bias. early stages, they could offer an important means
to bridge the gap between digitally established
languages and those that have been left behind.
79. Source: Ethnologue. A language becomes endangered when its users begin to teach and speak a more dominant language to the children in the community.
80. See
for example "How tech can bridge the global digital language divide", Raconteur, July 2022; "Scaling Speech Technology to 1,000+ Languages", Meta, May
2023; and "Unlocking Zero-Resource Machine Translation to Support New Languages in Google Translate", Google Research, May 2022
62
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Conclusion and
recommendations
In recent years, mobile operators and governments
worldwide have been working on advancing digital
inclusion, recognising its transformative potential for
societies. While there have been notable achievements
and mobile internet adoption continues to grow, this
report shows that progress has slowed. Furthermore,
with an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, many are now
further at risk of remaining unconnected.
63
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
81. The
poverty reduction effects of mobile broadband in Africa: Evidence from Nigeria, World Bank, GSMA, 2020
82. Mobile Broadband Internet, Poverty and Labor Outcomes in Tanzania, Bahia, K. et al., 2021
83.
Mobile Internet Use, Well-being and Gender: Understanding the Links, GSMA 2022; The Impact of Mobile and Internet Technology on Women’s Wellbeing
Around the World, GSMA, 2019
84. The
Impact of Mobile on People’s Happiness and Well-Being, GSMA, 2018
85. How broadband, digitization and ICT regulation impact the global economy, ITU, 2020
86. Economic impact of broadband in LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, ITU, 2021
64
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
The Global Digital Compact, called for by the UN The barriers to digital
Secretary General, aims to set forth shared principles
for an open, free and secure digital future for all. inclusion are complex
It has a specific objective on closing the digital
divide and is to be agreed at the UN's Summit of
and interconnected
the Future in September 2024.87 The importance of
digital inclusion and addressing challenges such as A united and determined effort is essential to
affordability, online safety and quality connectivity attain meaningful connectivity, enabling users
was also acknowledged in the G20 Leaders' to have a safe, enriching experience that is
Declaration, published in November 2022.88 affordable. Achieving this goal demands focused
actions from stakeholders including mobile
Furthermore, the ITU's Plenipotentiary Conference operators, policymakers, international partners
and elections in October 2022 resulted in Member and the broader private sector. Strategies should
States agreeing on the ITU's strategic plans, take into account structural disparities, such
which emphasise fostering an enabling policy as income and education levels, and societal
environment to drive digital inclusion on a global norms that affect adoption and usage. Figure 29
scale. 89 In her acceptance speech, the newly presents the barriers to be addressed.
87. Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 5 A Global Digital Compact — an Open, Free and Secure Digital Future for All, UN, 2023
88. G20
Bali Leaders' Declaration, G20, 2022
89. Final
Acts of the Plenipotentiary Conference, ITU, 2022
90.
Secretary-General-elect Acceptance Speech, ITU, 2022
65
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Figure 29
Addressing key barriers to digital inclusion
Improving digital skills Approaches to Concerns about safety Local digital Using the internet
and literacy, as well improve affordability and security, including ecosystems in depends on enablers
as driving awareness should include efforts online harassment many LMICs remain such as electricity,
and understanding of to lower the cost or cyberbullying, underdeveloped and formal identification,
mobile internet and of internet-enabled misinformation, under-resourced. sales agents and
its benefits, is critical handsets and data disinformation and Investment in local accessibility features.
to increasing digital through innovative fraud, are preventing digital ecosystems Stakeholders can
inclusion. Digital skills data pricing strategies people going online and an enabling policy increase mobile internet
initiatives should focus and handset-financing and having a positive environment can adoption by focusing
on users’ needs and options, in addition internet experience. accelerate growth in on, for example,
circumstances. 91 to adopting tax Appropriate mecha- local content, services facilitating inclusive
policies and providing nisms and frameworks and applications that and transparent
targeted subsidies that recognise these meet the needs of registration processes
that promote the online risks should be people and in their for mobile, and
uptake of internet- put in place to help own language. making services, sales
enabled devices and build consumer trust. channels and training
data services. 92 Stakeholders should facilities accessible to
provide users, espe- underserved groups,
cially women, with the such as women and
tools to increase their persons with disabilities,
knowledge and skills alongside improving
to mitigate online risks. accessibility features.
Given the scale of the challenge, a strong timely and accurate data on the digital divide. No
collective effort is required to close the digital single entity or action can close this divide – but
divide. It will require stakeholders working with the concerted effort and collaboration of
together to provide coverage for those living in different stakeholders, we can accelerate progress
areas without mobile broadband and to address and ensure that no one is left unconnected in an
usage barriers for those living within the footprint increasingly connected world.
of a mobile broadband network. These actions
must be informed by an understanding of the
digital gaps, the needs of individuals not yet
using mobile internet, the barriers they face and
opportunities to address them. Additionally, this
highlights the importance of collecting relevant,
91. See Developing mobile digital skills in low- and middle-income countries, GSMA, 2021, and GSMA Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit.
92.
Making internet-enabled handsets more affordable in low- and middle-income countries, GSMA, 2022
66
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Appendix 1:
The GSMA
Consumer Survey
This report uses the results of the GSMA Consumer
Survey. As part of the survey, the GSMA conducted
face-to-face interviews in 12 LMICs in 2022, 10 LMICs in
2021, eight LMICs in 2020, 15 LMICs in 2019, 18 LMICs in
2018 and 24 LMICs in 2017.
The 12 LMICs surveyed in 2022 were Bangladesh, Egypt,
Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kenya,
Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan and Senegal. The countries
included in the survey across all years account for 75%
of the population in LMICs.
67
APPENDIX 1: THE GSMA CONSUMER SURVEY
93. China was included in the 2017 and 2018 Consumer Surveys.
94. Quotas were applied on the following metrics: age category by gender, urban and rural distribution by gender, region/state and socioeconomic class (SEC) to
ensure representativeness of lower-income segments (no such quota was applied in Mozambique in the absence of reliable profiling data on SEC).
68
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
1.
For each of the possible reasons, please indicate whether this is something that stops you at all
from using the internet on a mobile phone.
2. Which, if any, of those factors would you say are the most important reasons stopping you from
using the internet on a mobile phone?
3. Which one of those factors would you say is the single most important reason stopping you from
using the internet on a mobile phone?
For the purposes of analysis in this report, we grouped some of the responses into similar categories.
Below are the barriers listed in the survey, along with the relevant categorisation.
— I do not know how to access the internet — I am concerned that I would receive
on a mobile phone unwanted contact from people online
— I have difficulties with reading and writing (e.g. scam emails or unwanted messages)
— I find it difficult to use a mobile in general — I am concerned that it might expose
(calling, texting or mobile internet) myself or my family to harmful content
— I do not have time to learn how to use the — I am concerned that my identity or other
internet on a mobile phone private information will be stolen or
—T here is nobody to teach or help me to misused
use mobile internet
Relevance Access
69
APPENDIX 1: THE GSMA CONSUMER SURVEY
For mobile internet use cases, this report uses — Play free games on a mobile phone
data from the GSMA Consumer Survey on the
tools and services used on a mobile phone. The —W
atch free-to-access online video on a mobile
GSMA Consumer Survey framed the following phone (e.g. YouTube, Dailymotion)
question: “Thinking now about different tools
and services you may use on a mobile phone. —L
isten to free online music on a mobile phone
How frequently, if at all, do you do each of the (e.g. Deezer, Spotify, Pandora)
following on a mobile phone?”
— Use my mobile money account to send or
Respondents could answer with one of the receive money from friends/relatives/business
following: associates
They were asked this question about the — Use my bank’s mobile banking service/app
following use cases:
— Manage or pay my bills on a mobile phone
—M
ake or receive phone calls on a mobile (using mobile money or online banking)
phone using an online provider (e.g. Skype,
WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, KakaoTalk, —A
ccess services that help me to improve or
Google Voice, Viber) monitor my health, on a mobile phone
—M
ake or receive video calls where you can see —A
ccess government services on a mobile phone
the person you are speaking to (e.g. FaceTime,
Skype, WhatsApp, Viber) — Look or apply for a job on a mobile phone
—U
se instant messaging on a mobile phone (e.g. —A
ccess information to support my education,
Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, KakaoTalk, or that of my children or relatives on a mobile
LINE, Viber, Snapchat) phone
70
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Appendix 2:
Methodology
for measuring
handset and data
affordability
71
APPENDIX 2: METHODOLOGY FOR MEASURING HANDSET AND DATA AFFORDABILITY
Handset cost
In each country, consumers have a range of choices when deciding
which handset to purchase. For this report, as we are primarily focused
on affordability for those who are not connected, we look at the price of
the cheapest internet-enabled smartphone or feature phone available in
each market. 96 This represents the minimum cost required for a consumer
to access a device that allows them to use mobile internet services.
However, it may not reflect the phones that the majority of consumers have
purchased historically (for example, premium handsets).
Income
With regard to income, we source data from the IMF World Economic
Outlook on each country’s GDP per capita. This allows us to express
affordability as the cost of data/handset relative to monthly GDP per
capita and to compare each country with the ITU aspirational affordability
target, which aims to make entry-level broadband services less than 2% of
monthly income per capita by 2030. 97 One issue with this indicator is that
average incomes do not reflect variations in income inequality, which can
be significant in many LMICs. This means that while mobile broadband may
be less than 2% of average monthly income per capita in a given country,
it could be much higher than this threshold for a large segment of the
population. We therefore also look at affordability in each country for the
poorest 20% and 40% of the population, using income distribution data
sourced from the World Bank and the World Inequality Database.
95. This is similar to the approach taken by others (for example, the ITU, OECD and A4AI) to measuring mobile prices. Data on mobile pricing is sourced from Tarifica.
For further details on the methodology, see Mobile Connectivity Index Methodology.
96. Data on handset prices is sourced from Tarifica. For further details on the methodology, see Mobile Connectivity Index Methodology.
97. See Aspirational targets for 2030, ITU, 2022. While the ITU’s target refers to affordability based on GNI per capita, we use GDP per capita in the index to
incorporate more up-to-date data on income per capita. In any case, GDP and GNI per capita are very highly correlated, so our results do not materially change
based on the income metric used.
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THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Appendix 3:
Additional figures
Figure A1 shows a list of countries with a overlapping barriers were grouped into
coverage gap of 10% or more. These countries composites (see Appendix 1). Figure A2 shows
are further categorised by those experiencing the top barrier reported by urban and rural
a protracted humanitarian crisis, such as acute respondents in surveyed markets in 2022.
hunger or active conflict, 98 and those that have a
high level of vulnerability to climate change but Respondents who were using mobile internet
a low level of readiness, indicating a heightened were asked which activities they were typically
risk to extreme natural hazards. 99 doing at least daily, weekly, monthly and less
than monthly on a mobile phone. Figure A3
In the GSMA Consumer Survey 2022, shows the proportion of mobile internet users in
respondents who were aware of mobile internet the surveyed countries that have done different
were asked to identify the barriers preventing activities at least once on a mobile phone. Figure
them from using mobile internet. Respondents A4 shows the proportion of mobile internet users
were first asked to identify all relevant barriers, that have used mobile for different activities
then to identify those that were most important on a daily, weekly and monthly basis across six
and, finally, to identify the single most important countries surveyed from 2019 to 2022.
barrier. Strongly related or thematically
98. Global
Humanitarian Assistance Report 2023, Development Initiatives, 2023
99.
ND-GAIN Matrix, Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative, 2023
73
APPENDIX 3: ADDITIONAL FIGURES
Figure A1
List of countries with a coverage gap of 10% or more, categorised by those experiencing
protracted crisis or at risk of climate change
Source: GSMA analysis of Global Humanitarian Assistance Report 2023 and Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative.
74
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023 APPENDIX 3: ADDITIONAL FIGURES
Figure A2
Top barriers to mobile internet use
Percentage of mobile users who are aware of mobile internet but do not use it, and who identified the following as the single
most important barrier to using mobile internet
AFFORDABILITY LITERACY AND DIGITAL SKILLS RELEVANCE SAFETY AND SECURITY ACCESS
Do not
Not Hard to find
Do not know Do not have time Insufficient Slow No access
Reading/ sufficient Internet is not Harmful Strangers Internet where to buy
Handset Data how to access know how to learn how content Information Network Family does Access to connection/ to internet
writing support in relevant for content (self/ contacting drains internet
cost cost internet on to use to access in local security coverage not approve agent support cannot do enabled
difficulties learning to me family) me my battery enabled
a mobile a mobile internet on language what I want phone
use internet phone
a mobile
U R U R U R U R U R U R U R U R U R U R U R U R U R U R U R U R U R U R U R
Indonesia 26% 24% 14% 16% 12% 16% 0% 2% 0% 13% 12% 2% 2% 2% 12% 12% 2% 0% 2% 1% 6% 1% 4% 2% 0% 0% 2% 4% 2% 0% 2% 1% 2% 2% 0% 3% 0% 0%
Base: Adults aged 18 and above who have used a mobile phone in the last three months but have not used mobile internet in the last three months, despite being
aware of mobile internet (excludes mobile users who are not aware of mobile internet). N = from 43 to 127 for urban and from 53 to 254 for rural.
Note: Percentages indicate the proportion of respondents who answered, “This is the most important reason stopping me” to the question, “Which one of those
factors would you say is the single most important reason stopping you from using the internet on a mobile phone?” Cells in grey reflect where sample sizes were U R
below 30 and therefore deemed insufficient for analysis.
Source: GSMA Consumer Survey 2022
URBAN RURAL Least frequently cited barrier in that country Most frequently cited barrier in that country
75
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023 APPENDIX 3: ADDITIONAL FIGURES
Figure A3
Activities done online (ever done on mobile)
Percentage of mobile internet users that report having done the activity at least once on a mobile phone
ACCESS
GET INFORMATION
ORDER AND/
MAKE OR MAKE OR WATCH FREE- INFORMATION TO SUPPORT ACCESS LOOK OR
USE INSTANT READ THE PLAY FREE LISTEN TO FREE MANAGE OR OR PURCHASE ACCESS HEALTH
RECEIVE CALLS RECEIVE VIDEO TO-ACCESS ABOUT MY EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT APPLY FOR
MESSAGING NEWS GAMES ONLINE MUSIC PAY MY BILLS GOODS OR SERVICES
ONLINE CALLS ONLINE VIDEO PRODUCTS AND OR THAT OF MY SERVICES A JOB
SERVICES
SERVICES CHILDREN AND
RELATIVES
Egypt 98% 97% 95% 93% 89% 83% 79% 64% 49% 41% 55% 43% 43% 38%
Ethiopia 71% 68% 71% 60% 68% 66% 41% 36% 43% 15% 18% 24% 20% 18%
Ghana 93% 91% 89% 76% 78% 66% 58% 66% 57% 40% 41% 33% 29% 26%
AFRICA
Kenya 93% 76% 71% 81% 64% 60% 61% 70% 55% 76% 36% 29% 33% 42%
Nigeria 94% 90% 85% 75% 80% 72% 54% 67% 57% 59% 44% 41% 38% 37%
Senegal 90% 92% 87% 83% 65% 55% 55% 36% 37% 35% 27% 25% 24% 19%
Bangladesh 88% 90% 92% 74% 56% 55% 46% 30% 44% 40% 30% 35% 39% 29%
India 82% 80% 88% 87% 55% 53% 66% 47% 49% 36% 48% 33% 29% 33%
ASIA
Indonesia 97% 97% 97% 84% 67% 44% 41% 43% 36% 20% 44% 18% 16% 16%
Pakistan 77% 81% 91% 74% 46% 66% 45% 38% 30% 26% 21% 29% 20% 19%
Guatemala 91% 89% 84% 74% 75% 43% 54% 47% 60% 29% 40% 34% 28% 26%
AMERICA
LATIN
Mexico 97% 90% 82% 84% 76% 54% 72% 59% 71% 51% 46% 48% 48% 37%
Base: Mobile internet users aged 18 and above. N = from 264 to 1,008
Note: Percentages indicate the proportion of respondents who answered that they have ever performed each activity on a mobile. Respondents may have engaged
0-10% 11-30% 31-50% 51-70% 71-90% 91-100%
in some use cases on a phone other than their own.
Source: GSMA Consumer Survey 2022
76
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Figure A4
Frequency of activities that mobile internet users report having done on a mobile phone in
countries surveyed, 2019–2022
Percentage of mobile internet users
Base: Mobile internet users aged 18 and above. N = from 285 to 1,008 across the six countries surveyed in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Note: Chart uses data for six countries that were surveyed 2019–2022 (Bangladesh, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan)
Source: GSMA Consumer Survey 2022
77
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023 THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
Appendix 4:
Glossary
Mobile A person who uses internet services on a mobile device. Mobile internet
internet user services are defined as any activities that use mobile data.
Mobile (phone) A person who subscribes to a mobile service. They do not necessarily use
owner/subscriber mobile internet.
100. For further details on different technologies, see ITU-R FAQ on International Telecommunications (IMT), ITU, 2022.
78
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
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THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023
www.gsma.com/somic
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