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The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2023

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82 views81 pages

The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2023

Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 81

The State of

Mobile Internet
Connectivity
2023

Copyright © 2023 GSMA


GSMA GSMA Connected Society
The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the The Connected Society programme works with
mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver the mobile industry, technology companies, the
innovation foundational to positive business development community and governments to
environments and societal change. Our vision is increase access to and adoption of mobile internet,
to unlock the full power of connectivity so that focusing on underserved population groups in
people, industry and society thrive. Representing developing markets.
mobile operators and organisations across the
mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the For more information, please visit
GSMA delivers for its members across three broad www.gsma.com/connected-society
pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services
and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes To get in touch with the Connected Society team,
advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal please email connectedsociety@gsma.com
challenges, underpinning the technology and
interoperability that make mobile work, and
providing the world’s largest platform to convene
the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 This material has been funded by UK Aid from the
series of events. UK Government; however, the views expressed
do not necessarily reflect the UK Government’s
We invite you to find out more at gsma.com official policies.
Follow the GSMA on Twitter/X: @GSMA

GSMA Intelligence is the definitive source of global


mobile operator data, analysis and forecasts, and
publisher of authoritative industry reports and This document has been financed by the Swedish
research. Our data covers every operator group, International Development Cooperation Agency,
network and MVNO in every country worldwide Sida. Sida does not necessarily share the views
– from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. It is the most expressed in this material. Responsibility for its
accurate and complete set of industry metrics contents rests entirely with the authors.
available, comprising tens of millions of individual
data points, updated daily. GSMA Intelligence is
relied on by leading operators, vendors, regulators,
financial institutions and third-party industry
players, to support strategic decision-making and
long-term investment planning.

The data is used as an industry reference point


and is frequently cited by the media and by the
industry itself.

Our team of analysts and experts produce regular


thought-leading research reports across a range
of industry topics.

www.gsmaintelligence.com
info@gsmaintelligence.com

Authors: Matthew Shanahan, Kalvin Bahia

Contributors: Isabelle Carboni, Claire Sibthorpe, Melle Tiel Groenestege, Anne Shannon Baxter, Harry Fernando
Aquije Ballon, Anna-Noémie Ouattara Boni

Published: October 2023


THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023 THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023

Contents
Key findings 4

Introduction 7

1. Trends in mobile internet connectivity 9

2. Network coverage and infrastructure 25

3. How people are using mobile internet 37

4. Key barriers to mobile internet adoption and use 45

5. Conclusion and recommendations 63

Appendix 1: The GSMA Consumer Survey 67

Appendix 2: Methodology for measuring handset


and data affordability 71

Appendix 3: Additional figures 73

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.

Awareness of mobile internet continues


to grow but has slowed significantly since
2019. In nine of the 12 countries surveyed,
more than 80% of the population was aware
of mobile internet in 2022. However, women
and those living in rural areas remain less
likely to be aware of mobile internet, and
lack of awareness remains a critical initial
barrier to mobile internet adoption in some
countries.

Affordability and skills remain the two


greatest barriers to mobile internet
adoption and use. Across the countries
surveyed, for mobile users who are aware
of mobile internet but don’t use it, the top
reported barriers to adopting it remain
affordability (particularly of handsets)

5
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023 KEY FINDINGS

KEY FINDINGS IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES


CONNECTED: COVERAGE
Adults living in

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

2G: 3G: 4G: 5G: 2G: 3G: 4G: 5G:


of monthly income
96% 92% 80% 0% 98% 95% 90% 32%

6
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023

Introduction

7
INTRODUCTION

Why mobile connectivity matters


Mobile internet is connecting more people to the the slowdown is perhaps not surprising in the
internet than ever before. By the end of 2022, wake of the pandemic and the ongoing economic
the number of people using mobile internet crisis, it highlights more needs to be done to
increased to 4.6 billion people (57% of the accelerate digital inclusion and stop the digital
global population). Mobile is the primary – in divide widening.
some cases, only – way most people access the
internet in low- and middle-income countries Addressing the digital divide provides significant
(LMICs). Across the surveyed countries, on socioeconomic benefits and has never been
average, 73% of respondents who had used the more important. Mobile internet is connecting
internet in the last three months did so solely via more people than ever before to critical services,
a mobile. such as healthcare, education, e-commerce
and financial services, and providing income-
However, the growth rate at which people are generating opportunities. Across all countries
adopting mobile internet has slowed in the last surveyed, the majority of users reported it had
year, and significant digital divides persist. Those a positive overall impact on their lives. Despite
who are digitally excluded are more likely to be the benefits of connectivity, 38% of the global
poorer, less educated, rural and women – groups population are living within mobile broadband
typically most affected by the ongoing cost-of- coverage but are not using it, while 5% are still
living crisis, conflicts and climate change. While not covered by mobile broadband.

About this report


The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2023 The findings of this report are based on the
analyses trends since 2015. The report considers GSMA Consumer Survey, the GSMA Mobile
the importance of not just mobile broadband Connectivity Index 2 (MCI) and a range of other
coverage but ‘meaningful connectivity’ – industry reports. The GSMA Consumer Survey
users having a safe, satisfying, enriching and has been carried out each year since 2017 to
productive online experience that is affordable.1 understand access to – and use of – mobile
This requires an understanding of the key barriers and mobile internet in LMICs. In 2022, it was
and enablers for meaningful connectivity, conducted in 12 LMICs. 3 The MCI measures the
including infrastructure, affordability, skills, safety key enablers of mobile internet connectivity
and security, and relevant content and services. across 170 countries (representing 99% of the
Each of these is considered in this report. global population) against 32 indicators for the
period 2014–2022. The indicators are grouped
This analysis presents the latest updates on into four overarching enablers: infrastructure,
mobile internet connectivity globally and by affordability, consumer readiness, and content
region, highlighting the size of the coverage and and services. Together, these provide objective,
usage gaps, including a focus on LMICs (Chapter quantitative metrics to track the key enablers of
1). For the first time, it also presents data on the mobile internet adoption and usage, as well as
device type people are using to connect. The insights into what consumers use mobile internet
report then explores mobile broadband coverage for or what prevents them from using it. 4
and infrastructure (Chapter 2). Chapters 3 and
4 focus on adults in LMICs, providing insights
into how they are using mobile internet and the
barriers to mobile internet adoption and use.
Chapter 5 outlines the key challenges to address
to ensure everyone can connect to the internet.

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

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Connected Usage gap Coverage gap

Base: Total population, 198 countries


Note: Totals may not add up due to rounding. Every year, GSMA Intelligence updates its estimates of the number of mobile internet subscribers in each country,
incorporating new (and/or updated) data from operators, regulators, national statistics agencies and consumer surveys where available. In some countries and
regions, estimates of mobile internet adoption may therefore differ from what was presented in previous editions of The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity.
Source: Unique subscriber data among adults is sourced from GSMA Intelligence. Coverage data is sourced from GSMA Intelligence, combining data reported by
mobile operators and national regulatory authorities. Population data is sourced from the UN.

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

Coverage gap: Usage gap: Connected:


Those who live in an area Those who live within Those who use
not covered by a mobile the footprint of a mobile mobile internet.
broadband network. broadband network but do not
use mobile internet services.

Connectivity varies There was a slowdown in the growth rate of


mobile internet connectivity in most regions –
substantially between with the exception of Middle East & North Africa
and Sub-Saharan Africa, which both saw almost
and within regions 30 million new mobile internet users in 2022.
The slowdown in mobile internet adoption was
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the most stark in South Asia, where almost 60 million
largest coverage and usage gaps (see Figure 2). people started using mobile internet in 2022,
However, there is variation within the region. The compared to an additional 90 million in 2021. As
coverage gap remains much higher in Central a result, the percentage of the population using
Africa (36%) than in Western, Eastern and mobile internet in South Asia increased by only
Southern Africa (where it ranges from 11% to 2 percentage points (pp), compared to 4 pp
14%). Meanwhile, mobile internet adoption is in 2021 and 5 pp in 2020. This may have been
higher in Southern Africa (33%) than in other driven by higher device costs and the broader
sub-regions (ranging from 17% in Central Africa cost-of-living crisis, as well as persistent barriers
to 27% in Western Africa). around lack of digital skills among the poorest
population segments (see Chapter 4).

11
1. TRENDS IN MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

Figure 2
State of mobile internet GLOBAL
connectivity by region, 2022

5% Coverage gap
380m

38% Usage gap


Middle East Europe 3.04bn
North America & North Africa & Central Asia

57% Connected
1% 4% 2% 4.56bn

5m 30m 10m

14% 44% 19%


50m 280m 160m

85% 51% 79%


320m 330m 670m

Latin America Sub-Saharan East Asia


& Caribbean Africa South Asia & Pacific

6% 15% 4% 2%
40m 180m 80m 40m

32% 59% 52% 28%


210m 680m 990m 670m

62% 25% 44% 71%


410m 290m 840m 1.71bn

Base: Total population


Note: Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Every year, GSMA Intelligence updates its estimates of the number of mobile internet subscribers in each
country, incorporating new (and/or updated) data from operators, regulators, national statistics agencies and consumer surveys where available. In some countries
and regions, estimates of mobile internet adoption may therefore differ from what was presented in previous editions of The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity.
Source: GSMA Intelligence

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

Connected Usage gap Coverage gap

Base: Total population, 198 countries


Note: Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Every year, GSMA Intelligence updates its estimates of the number of mobile internet subscribers in each
country, incorporating new (and/or updated) data from operators, regulators, national statistics agencies and consumer surveys where available. In some countries
and regions, estimates of mobile internet adoption may therefore differ from what was presented in previous editions of The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity.
Source: GSMA Intelligence

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

Connectivity in LDCs Least developed countries (LDCs) 6 remain highly


vulnerable to economic and environmental
continues to lag behind shocks and have low levels of human assets

other LMICs compared to other countries, including other


LMICs. Almost 30 million additional people
connected to mobile internet in LDCs in 2022,
meaning one in four people in LDCs are now
using mobile internet (25% of the population).
However, this remains significantly below levels
of adoption in not just HICs, where it increased
to 85% of the population, but also other LMICs
(excluding LDCs), where mobile internet adoption
stood at 57% at the end of 2022. See Figure 4.

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%

21% 23% 25%

2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022

HICs LMICs LDCs LMICs excl. LDCs

Connected Usage gap Coverage gap

Base: Total population, 198 countries


Note: Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Every year, GSMA Intelligence updates its estimates of the number of mobile internet subscribers in each
country, incorporating new (and/or updated) data from operators, regulators, national statistics agencies and consumer surveys where available. In some countries
and regions, estimates of mobile internet adoption may therefore differ from what was presented in previous editions of The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity.
Source: GSMA Intelligence

6. UN definition. For more information on the indices, see https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/least-developed-country-category.html

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

now using mobile 18 and over, levels of connectivity in Sub-Saharan


Africa increase from 25% to 42%, and from 44%
internet to 63% in South Asia. However, more than half of
adults aged 18 and above were still unconnected
in Sub-Saharan Africa, while more than a third
In The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2022, were unconnected in South Asia and in the Middle
we showed for the first time the level of internet East and North Africa. Crucially, 23% of adults
adoption among adults aged 18 and above for the aged 18 and above globally are still not using
2019–2021 period. This addresses some of the bias mobile internet despite being covered by a mobile
against countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan broadband network.
Africa, which have much younger populations that
are unlikely to have a mobile internet subscription
(including young infants and babies).

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

Connected Usage gap Coverage gap

Base: Adult population aged 18 and above, 198 countries


Note: Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Every year, GSMA Intelligence updates its estimates of the number of mobile internet subscribers in each
country, incorporating new (and/or updated) data from operators, regulators, national statistics agencies and consumer surveys where available. In some countries
and regions, estimates of mobile internet adoption may therefore differ from what was presented in previous editions of The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity.
Source: GSMA Intelligence

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

without a mobile of broadband network but don’t use mobile internet:

any type  hose who own a smartphone but are not


T
connected

Those who own a different type of mobile

Those who have no mobile

Of the 3 billion people who are covered by mobile


broadband networks but are not using mobile
internet, around a third are at least using mobile
voice or SMS on a device they own or have primary
use of. This includes 350 million smartphone
owners using mobile services but not mobile
internet, and more than 600 million people (8% of
the global population) who have a basic or feature
phone, are using mobile services but are not
connected to mobile internet. The remaining two
thirds of the usage gap do not own 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

Base: Total population, 198 countries


Note: Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding
Source: GSMA Intelligence

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

Connected Usage Gap Coverage gap

Connected Connected Smartphone Other phone No device Not covered


with without but not but not by mobile
smartphone smartphone connected connected broadband

Base: Total population, 198 countries


Note: Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding
Source: GSMA Intelligence

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).

By contrast, the vast majority of smartphones


being used in South Asia are 4G-enabled, while
North America and East Asia & Pacific have the
largest base of 5G smartphones.

Figure 8
Smartphone ownership of mobile internet users, by technology, 2022

2% 1% 0%

8% 3%
17%
29% 31%
41%

63%
71%

69% 74% 91%

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

Base: Mobile internet users with a smartphone, 198 countries


Note: Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding
Source: GSMA Intelligence

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%.

Although more than half of rural adults in LMICs


are using mobile internet, the adoption rate among
rural adults is much lower in LDCs, at 31%. Not
only is overall connectivity much lower in LDCs;
the digital divide is greater as well, as LDCs have
a much larger rural-urban gap (45%) than other
LMICs (24%).

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%

33% 33% 33%


31% 30% 31%
30% 29% 29%
27% 28% 27%
26% 26% 26% 26%
23% 23%
22%
20% 20% 20%
17% 17% 18%

East Asia Europe Latin America Middle East South Asia Sub-Saharan All LMICs
& Pacific & Central Asia & Caribbean & North Africa Africa

2017 2018 2019 2021 2022

Base: Adults aged 18 and above


Source: GSMA Intelligence calculations based on data sourced from the GSMA Consumer Survey 2017–2022 and Gallup World Poll (for countries not included in the
former)

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

Africa Asia Latin America

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.

To close the mobile internet gender gap by 2030


across LMICs, an estimated 810 million women
need to adopt mobile internet. This is equivalent
to an additional 100 million women per year, on
average. However, if the gender gap remains
unchanged, forecasts indicate only 360 million
more women will adopt mobile internet by 2030.

The gender gap in smartphone ownership has


stalled for the second year in a row. Women
in LMICs are 17% less likely than men to own a
smartphone. This equates to around 250 million
fewer women than men. While more men and
women own a smartphone than ever before, the
rate of adoption for both has slowed slightly. 55%
of women now own a smartphone, compared
to 67% of men. However, once women own a
smartphone, their awareness and use of mobile
internet are almost on a par with men.

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%

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Gender gap in mobile internet


2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

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

reaching the remaining the mobile industry and governments continue


to seek new and innovative means to finance and
populations is still a deploy broadband technologies in rural and remote
areas,10 it seems unlikely that significant gains will
challenge be achieved in the near future without a major
technological shift. One solution that is receiving
renewed attention is new satellite technologies.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, 7% of the From a technological perspective, these have the
world’s population lived in an area not covered by potential to achieve widespread global coverage.
a mobile broadband network. Over the following However, in the short to medium term there are
two years, the coverage gap marginally declined to likely to be technical, economic and regulatory
5%, but there was little change in 2022 (see Figure challenges to achieving this. See Spotlight: Can LEO
1). By the end of 2022, the number of people who satellite close the coverage gap?
remained without broadband coverage was almost
400 million – similar to the number for 2021. The Similar to 2021, there are 24 countries where the
coverage gap is still equally divided into two coverage gap is persistently high, with at least 20%
groups: around 200 million people covered by of the population uncovered. The majority are in
2G networks only, and 200 million people with no Africa.11 It is notable that 12 of these countries are
pre-existing mobile infrastructure (i.e. no coverage experiencing a protracted humanitarian crisis,12
from any technology). such as acute hunger or active conflict,13 and
19 have a high level of vulnerability to climate
change but a low level of readiness, indicating
a heightened risk to extreme natural hazards.14
This potentially means that crisis-affected
people disproportionately lack access to mobile
broadband coverage, despite arguably being
among the groups with the most to gain from
it. See Spotlight: Connectivity has profound
implications in times of crisis.

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

Can LEO satellites close


the coverage gap?
The persistent 5% global coverage gap over the This new generation of satellite connectivity
past two years represents a significant challenge. could potentially close the coverage gap in
In least developed countries, where almost 1 in 6 three ways:
people live outside an area with mobile
broadband coverage, deploying 3G, 4G or 5G  roviding direct fixed satellite broadband
P
coverage is extremely challenging, especially in connectivity to consumers
areas that lack 2G coverage. The costs needed to Supporting mobile connectivity with satellite
expand coverage in sparsely populated areas, to backhaul solutions
the final percentiles of the population, increase Direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, with
exponentially to the point where it is satellites acting as ‘base stations in space’.
unsustainable for either an operator or
government to fund the high capital cost and In terms of direct fixed satellite broadband
ongoing opex.15 service, one of the largest LEO providers is
SpaceX’s Starlink service, which served more
During the past decade, a number of innovations than 1 million users at the end of 2022.19 As of
have been proposed and tested to extend June 2023, it was available in more than 50
coverage to these areas, including wide-area cell countries and is expected to launch in many
sites and high-altitude solutions – for example, more in the coming years, including in Africa
Google’s Project Loon and Meta’s Aquila. and Asia. 20 While the quality of service for
Unfortunately, none of these were able to scale satellite internet has improved and is now
or operate in a commercial setting.16 However, comparable to fixed broadband in some
there is renewed promise in the new generation markets, 21 it remains unavailable in the majority
of satellites. In particular, the entry of Amazon, of LMICs. Furthermore, where the service has
OneWeb and especially SpaceX has seen the been launched, the cost of access is likely to be
number of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites17 prohibitive to those currently living in uncovered
increase from 1,000 to almost 5,000 between areas in LMICs, with a one-off hardware cost
2017 and 2022.18 Over the next five years, the of up to $700 and a monthly cost of $50–100
number is expected to double to more than (prices vary by country). 22
10,000, in theory enabling near-complete global
coverage of the Earth’s landmass. The second way satellite can extend coverage is
to support mobile backhaul – one of the biggest
deployment costs of mobile networks in remote

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

Connectivity has profound


implications in times of crisis

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.

The 36 countries with a coverage gap of 10%


or more are home to only 13% of the global
population but 46% of internally displaced people
(IDPs), 31 and 18% of refugees currently reside
here. 32 Overall, it is estimated that 172 million
people in need of humanitarian assistance reside
in these countries, or 42% of the global total. 33

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.

Meanwhile, 4G networks continued to expand


in Sub-Saharan Africa; 65% of the region’s
population now has 4G coverage, compared
to 27% in 2018 (see Figure 13). In 2022, Sub-
Saharan Africa accounted for more than half
of 4G network expansion globally, reaching
an additional 100 million people. As demand
increases, the gap between 4G and 3G will
continue to close, and in some countries 3G
networks will be shut down.

Figure 12
Global population coverage by technology, 2015–2022

100%

75%

50%

No coverage
25% 2G
3G
4G
0% 5G

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Source: GSMA Intelligence

31
2. NETWORK COVERAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Figure 13
Population coverage by technology and region, 2015–2022

East Asia & Pacific Europe & Central Asia

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

Latin America & Caribbean Middle East & North Africa

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

North America South Asia

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

Source: GSMA Intelligence

32
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023

2G and 3G network neutral policies. Based on plans that have been


announced, it is expected that around 90 2G
sunsets are expected to networks and more than 110 3G networks will

accelerate, but most have been shut down by 2025.

operators will maintain While there is an increasing trend to shut down


older networks, most operators worldwide will
legacy networks continue to maintain 2G and 3G networks for the
foreseeable future. Figure 14 shows that, by the
end of 2025, operators that have shut down 2G
As mobile operators focus on expanding their networks (based on existing announcements) will
4G and 5G footprints, many are looking to account for around 30% of mobile connections
optimise their network operations and costs, (compared to 8% at the end of 2022). Meanwhile,
and meet greater demand for bandwidth by operators that shut down 3G will account for
refarming spectrum for 4G and 5G, which have just over 40% of mobile connections, compared
greater spectral efficiencies. to 11% at the end of 2022. North America and
East Asia & Pacific are the only regions where
By the end of 2022, operators around the world more than half of mobile connections will be
had shut down 39 2G networks and the same with operators that no longer have a 3G network.
number of 3G networks. Most 2G sunsets (23) This is partly linked to re-licensing of spectrum,
have been in East Asia & Pacific, while 3G sunsets but the main factor is that a significant portion
have mostly occurred in East Asia & Pacific and of mobile users will continue to use 2G and 3G,
Europe & Central Asia (34 of the 39). 35 2023 is especially in LMICs, as will older IoT applications
expected to have the highest number of sunsets such as remote sensing and meter reading. 37
so far, with 57 operators planning 2G or 3G
shutdowns. The majority will again be in Asia While it may be desirable going forward to
Pacific and Europe. 36 accelerate network sunsets and increase the
use of more efficient technologies, this will
An important factor influencing operators’ sunset be conditional on enabling spectrum policies
decisions is the scheduled expiry of spectrum (particularly the assignment of technology-neutral
licences. As licences expire, regulators are re- spectrum) and the ability of operators to migrate
auctioning legacy spectrum bands such as 900 consumers and businesses to 4G or 5G devices.
MHz and 2100 MHz, often with technology-

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%

11% 11% 12% 11% 11%


8% 7% 7% 6%
3% 4% 2%
0% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0%
2G 3G 2G 3G 2G 3G 2G 3G 2G 3G 2G 3G 2G 3G 2G 3G

Global East Asia South Asia Europe Latin America North America Middle East Sub-Saharan
& Pacific & Central Asia & Caribbean & North Africa Africa

2022 2025

Source: GSMA Intelligence

34
THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023

Data usage and network The deployment and adoption of 5G in HICs


continues to increase the gap in network quality
quality increase, but with LMICs in terms of download speeds, with

gaps persist HICs achieving speeds four times greater than


those in LMICs. The gap in upload speeds has
remained constant over the past five years, with
Based on the latest traffic data published by HICs recording speeds twice those of LMICs.
Ericsson, monthly global mobile data traffic
per user increased from 8.4 GB in 2021 to 11.3 The gap between the two is not just driven by
GB in 2022 – the largest absolute increase 5G. Considering only 4G technologies, HICs
since the data was first tracked in 2015. 38 As have consistently achieved download speeds
in previous years, there remains a significant that are twice as high as LMICs, while 4G upload
gap between high-income regions and LMICs speeds have also been 20–30% higher over
(with the exception of India, where average data the past three years. While there are a number
usage of 16 GB per month is among the highest of reasons for this, including investment and
worldwide). However, as noted in The State of network deployment decisions, one likely factor
Mobile Internet Connectivity 2022, the average is the amount of spectrum assigned to mobile
amount of data consumption significantly operators. For a given number of cell sites, a
overstates the level of usage for most consumers, greater amount of spectrum allows operators to
since the average is skewed by a minority of very provide higher capacity and therefore download
intense data users. 39 This is further highlighted in speeds, especially in spectrum bands above 1
network analysis by Sandvine, which shows that GHz. The latest Mobile Connectivity Index shows
across several networks in Asia Pacific, around that HICs score an average of 70 for the Spectrum
8% of mobile subscribers are responsible for 55% dimension,41 compared to 36 for LMICs.
of the traffic volume. At the other end of the
scale, light users account for more than half of
subscribers but are responsible for less than 10%
of traffic. 40

Network quality continues to improve 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 (see Figure 15), and
the average download speed globally increased
from 27 Mbps to 34 Mbps. There was a notably
large improvement in network quality in
South Asia, with download and upload speeds
increasing by 30% and 25% respectively. This
was likely driven in part by the assignment of
additional mid-band spectrum (above 1 GHz)
in India and Bangladesh, allowing operators to
expand capacity.

38. Source: Ericsson Mobility Report, 2023


39. See The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2022, GSMA, 2022
40. 2023 Global Internet Phenomena Report, Sandvine, 2023
41. In the Mobile Connectivity Index, the Spectrum dimension consists of four indicators that measure the amount of spectrum assigned to mobile operators in the
following bands: below 1 GHz, 1–3 GHz, 3–6 GHz and millimetre wave bands (above 24 GHz).

35
2. NETWORK COVERAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Figure 15
Average download and upload speeds in HICs and LMICs, 2018-2022

Download speeds (Mbps) Upload speeds (Mbps)

80 14

60 11

HICs

40 7 Europe & Central Asia


East Asia & Pacific
Latin America & Caribbean
20 4
Middle East & North Africa
South Asia

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

Communications and The extent to which specific activities are


performed on mobiles varies on a country-by-
entertainment are the country basis. Internet-based communication
services, such as instant messaging and video
most popular, but use and voice calling online, are the most popular
varies between and activities by mobile internet users and are
commonly used across all countries surveyed.
within countries On average, more than 86% of mobile internet
users report having done these activities across
the countries surveyed (see Figure 16). However,
for other mobile internet activities, there are
large disparities between countries. For example,
89% of mobile internet users in Egypt have
used mobile to read the news, compared to
46% in Pakistan.

Figure 16
 ctivities that mobile internet users report having done at least once on a mobile
A
phone, 2022
Percentage of mobile internet users

Use instant messaging

Make or receive calls online

Make or receive video calls

Watch free-to-access online video

Read the news

Play free games

Listen to free online music

Get information about products


and services
Access information to support my education,
or that of my children and relatives
Manage or pay my bills

Order and/or purchase goods or services

Access health services

Access government services

Look or apply for a job

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

Use of online mobile also undertaken more administrative-related


tasks, such as ordering goods and services and
activities varies by managing bills, with a few exceptions. 46 Most

demographic within notably, rural mobile internet users in Egypt


stand out as more likely to have engaged in eight
countries of the 14 activities than their urban counterparts.
In the remaining six activities, rural users were
just as likely as urban counterparts to do so.
While both male and female mobile internet
users commonly use communication services, In general, mobile internet users aged 18–34
men were more likely than women to have were more likely than those aged 35 and over to
used mobile internet for a wider range of (non- engage in communications and entertainment
communication) activities. For example, among use cases. In fact, in Guatemala and Pakistan,
mobile internet users in nine out of 12 countries there was not a single activity out of the 14
surveyed, men were more likely than women to analysed where those aged 35 and above did
use mobile to read the news on a daily basis. 44 more than those aged 18–34 years old.
This difference is greatest in Mexico, where
35% of male mobile internet users did this daily, Literate mobile internet users were more
compared to 16% of female mobile internet users. likely than or at least just as likely as illiterate
In seven of the 12 countries, men were also more counterparts to have used mobile for all 14
likely to have used mobile to manage their bills activities on a daily, weekly and monthly basis
on a monthly basis. across all countries, with just two exceptions, 47
illustrating how lacking basic literacy can be a
Across the countries surveyed, mobile internet significant barrier to diverse use of mobile.
users in urban areas are typically more likely
or at least just as likely to have engaged in
communications and entertainment-based
activities daily compared to their rural
counterparts. 45 On a monthly basis, urban
mobile internet users are more likely to have

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

Use of mobile for in lockdowns, such as education for children


when schools were closed and remote access
certain activities spiked to healthcare information, job applications and
government services.
in lockdowns, with a
return to pre-pandemic With the ending of pandemic restrictions, these
services opened up again in-person. As people
levels now, illustrating returned to face-to-face interactions, the use
of mobile to access these services has mostly
how mobile can help reverted back to pre-lockdown levels, in some
cases dropping significantly (see Figure 17). The
adapt to shocks most notable example of this is in Bangladesh,
where the proportion of mobile internet users
During 2017–2021, across the countries surveyed, accessing educational support via mobile on a
the number of activities mobile owners reported weekly basis fell from 41% to 16%.
doing was increasing, with the use of a small
number of non-communications activities For a full list of activities performed by mobile
growing significantly during pandemic lockdowns internet users and how they have changed over
(see Figure 17). These included accessing health time, see Appendix 3.
services, government services and educational
support, and applying for jobs. The increases
illustrated how mobile served a critical role,
delivering important services remotely to those

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%

Daily Weekly Monthly

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

Africa Asia Latin America

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

Knowledge Safety and


Affordability Relevance Access
and skills security

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.

Again, regional nuances appear when analysing


by urban and rural respondents. It is also
important to note that, in most countries
surveyed, the majority of the population lives in
rural areas and there is a significant rural-urban
gap in mobile internet adoption, meaning millions
more people living in rural areas experience
these barriers than those living in urban areas.

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

Ranking All countries

1 Affordability

2 Literacy and digital skills

3 Safety and security

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

Lack of awareness Considering around 77% of the population in


Ethiopia is rural,56 this represents a significant
of mobile internet proportion of the population. It marks a substantial

remains a critical initial urban-rural gap in the country, as 79% of mobile


users in urban areas are aware of mobile internet.
barrier to adoption in Lack of awareness also poses as a barrier to
some countries some existing smartphone owners. For example,
in Bangladesh, 23% of smartphone owners were
not using mobile internet. Among these, almost
During 2017–2019, LMICs surveyed by the GSMA half were unaware of mobile internet. In India,
experienced strong growth in awareness of mobile 10% of smartphone owners were not using mobile
internet. However, since then, there has been internet. Of those, 38% were not aware of mobile
marginal growth. Overall, awareness is relatively internet. Similarly, in Kenya, 10% were not using
high across survey countries. In nine of the 12 mobile internet and of those, 27% were unaware.
countries, more than 80% of the population are
aware of mobile internet. However, awareness is Awareness does not always translate into mobile
not universal and some demographics are less internet use, though. Many people are mobile users
likely to be aware, including women55 and those and are aware of mobile internet but do not use
living in rural areas (see Figure 21). Awareness it, suggesting there are other barriers preventing
remains notably low in Ethiopia, Bangladesh them from doing so.
and India. In Ethiopia, as few as 46% of rural
respondents were aware of mobile internet.

Figure 21
Proportion of the adult population aged 18 and above who are aware of mobile internet

96% 96% 96% 96%


93% 94%
91% 91% 90% 91%
88%
85% 84%
83% 83%
81% 80% 80%
79%

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

Africa Asia Latin America

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

55. The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2023, GSMA, 2023


56. World Bank

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,

barrier to mobile Bangladesh and Pakistan), while the other digital


skills barriers are reported more often in India,
internet adoption Indonesia and Mexico. In the remaining five
countries, illiteracy and digital skills are roughly
equally reported. Challenges related to both
A lack of literacy and digital skills57 ranked as the basic literacy and digital skills must be addressed
second top barrier to mobile internet adoption in order to reach the underserved.
among mobile users aware of mobile internet
but not using it, across the 12 countries surveyed
(see Figure 20). However, it ranked top in the
South Asian countries. Those who are more likely
to report this barrier tend to be poorer, women, The GSMA Mobile Internet
living in rural areas and over the age of 35 years Skills Training Toolkit
old. Structural inequalities disproportionately
affect these groups, including access to quality The GSMA Mobile Internet
education and schools or opportunities to learn Skills Training Toolkit (MISTT),
digital skills. launched in 2017, is a set
of free resources to teach people
The literacy and digital skills barrier encompasses the basic skills they need to access
illiteracy as well as four digital skills related and use mobile internet. It uses a ‘train
barriers: not knowing how to use a mobile; not the trainer’ approach and consists of
knowing how to access the internet on a mobile; short lessons available in PDF and video
not having the time to learn how to use the formats that can be easily adapted
internet on a mobile; and insufficient support to local needs and languages. It has
for learning how to use the internet on a mobile. been used to train more than 65 million
people in 27 countries. 58

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

Africa Asia Latin America

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

Affordability of internet- Defining affordability


enabled handsets and
data plays a critical role Affordability refers to the
ability of consumers to both
in adoption of mobile pay for a handset and cover
the cost of a suitable data
internet bundle.

The affordability of mobile data and


Affordability of handsets and data is one of handsets has two parts:
the main barriers to mobile internet adoption
and use. Affordability of handsets is the single  he cost (in local currency) of
T
most cited barrier among mobile users aware of purchasing mobile data and an
mobile internet across the 12 countries surveyed, internet-enabled handset
while device cost is also the primary barrier to A consumer’s income. 59,60
mobile ownership more generally.
Affordability is calculated as the cost of
data or a handset divided by monthly
GDP per capita. In this context, the
lower the cost of a handset and data as
a share of monthly GDP per capita, the
more affordable a handset and data are.
However, cheaper handsets are not the
only way to lower the handset cost burden.
Making financing more accessible and
strengthening the enabling environment,
including stimulating demand by increasing
awareness and willingness to pay, can also
increase affordability. 61

Cost and affordability of Across LMICs, the median cost of an entry-level,


an entry-level internet- internet-enabled handset increased from $42 to
$46 in 2022, but the median affordability was
enabled handset remain relatively stable, having improved in 2021 (see
Figure 23a). There was significant variation by
relatively unchanged region, as median affordability got worse in Latin
America, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa but
across LMICs overall, but was stable elsewhere (see Figure 23b). Figure 23c
there are differences by shows the change in device affordability between
2021 and 2022 in LMICs in each region, based
region on whether there was a significant improvement
or worsening in affordability. In this analysis, a
significant change is defined as being greater
This section highlights key trends in the than 10%. Globally across all LMICs, there was no
affordability of the cheapest internet-enabled significant change in affordability in 36% of LMICs,
handset found in LMICs, which can be a feature while it improved in 37% and got worse in 28%.
phone, smart feature phone or smartphone. 62 More than a quarter of countries in Latin America,
South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa saw device
affordability significantly worsen.

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%

20% Europe & Central Asia


East Asia & Pacific
Latin America & Caribbean
10%
Middle East & North Africa
South Asia
Sub-Saharan Africa
0

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

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

Significantly improved No significant change Significantly worsened

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

The cost-of-living crisis A key factor in the fall in smartphone sales is


likely to be the wider inflationary trend and cost-
is likely to have impacted of-living crisis. Across LMICs, the median inflation

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

Affordability of 1 GB which 1 GB pricing data was available in 2022, 53


and 5 GB continues to countries (41%) have yet to meet this affordability
target of 1 GB at less than 2% of average monthly
improve across most income. This compares to 56 countries (43%) that
did not meet this affordability target for 1 GB in
regions 2021. Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region where
more than half the countries have yet to meet
This section highlights key trends in the the affordability target of 1 GB at less than 2%
affordability of mobile data, based on the of average monthly income. When considering
cheapest package that allows consumers to use the second affordability target to make entry-
1 GB and 5 GB of data per month. 68 level broadband less than 2% of average income
for the bottom 40% of the population, 85 LMICs
In general, the affordability of 1 GB continues to (66% of the total) did not meet the target in 2022
improve (see Figure 24a). While affordability of 1 GB (compared to 89 countries, or 69%, in 2021). This
became slightly worse in Sub-Saharan Africa (see highlights the remaining challenge to make mobile
Figure 24b), only 12% of countries in the region saw broadband affordable for everyone.
the affordability of 1 GB worsen by more than 10%
(see Figure 24c). In most countries, the affordability Across all LMICs, of the 127 countries for which 5
of data plans either stayed the same or significantly GB pricing data was available, 75 countries – 59%
improved. Meanwhile, the affordability of 5 GB has of the total – have 5 GB affordability of more than
improved even more (see Figure 25a), as operators 2% of monthly income. This compares favourably
continue to respond to greater demand for mobile to 2018, when it was 69%. South Asia, Middle East
data with cheaper tariffs, enabling consumers to & North Africa and Europe & Central Asia are the
access more data affordably. regions where 5 GB affordability is less than 2%
of average monthly income in more than half of
The ITU has set an aspirational target of ensuring countries. However, when considering the average
that an entry-level broadband subscription costs income of the bottom 40%, at the end of 2022
less than 2% of income per capita, as well as 2% there were 100 LMICs (79% of the total) where 5
of the average income of the bottom 40% of the GB cost more than 2% of monthly income for the
population.69 In total, across the 129 LMICs for poorest population segments.

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

2% East Asia & Pacific


Latin America & Caribbean

1% Middle East & North Africa


South Asia
Sub-Saharan Africa
0%

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

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%

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

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

Affordability continues While the overall affordability for 1 GB and 5 GB


has continued to improve, affordability of mobile
to disproportionately data remains a significant barrier to access for

affect underserved underserved populations, particularly the poorest


populations and women. In 2022, Europe & Central
populations Asia and Southeast Asia were the only regions
where more than half the countries had 1 GB
affordability at less than 2% of monthly income for
The affordability of devices shows significant the poorest 40%. In the case of 5 GB, only Europe
variation by segment (see Figure 26). While across & Central Asia had a median affordability of less
LMICs the affordability of an entry-level device than 2% for the poorest 40%, while no region
is 16% of average monthly income overall, it is achieved this for the poorest 20%.
equivalent to 40% of average monthly income for
the poorest 40%. For the poorest 20%, it would There also remains a significant gap in
cost 55% of average monthly income. In Sub- affordability between men and women for mobile
Saharan Africa, which accounts for a quarter of data, especially in the Middle East & North Africa
the unconnected population, an entry-level device and South Asia, where women face greater
costs 95% of average monthly income for the affordability barriers due to larger gender gaps in
poorest 20%. Furthermore, in practice, handset wages and employment. On average, the cost of
affordability is likely to be even more of a barrier an entry-level, internet-enabled handset in LMICs
for the poorest, as many of the cheaper handsets is 24% of monthly income for women, compared
that are available in a market may not actually be to 13% for men. Similarly, on average, 1 GB of data
accessible to all consumers – particularly those in LMICs is 2% of monthly income for women
living in rural areas. In rural areas, the price of a versus 1% for men.
handset tends to be higher than in large cities
due to high transport and logistics costs, the
commission taken by intermediaries and a limited
presence of handset distributors.70

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

All populations Poorest 40% Poorest 20% Women Men

Median 1 GB affordability by segment 9.8%

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

All populations Poorest 40% Poorest 20% Women Men

Median 5 GB affordability by segment 24.2%

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

All populations Poorest 40% Poorest 20% Women Men

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

Safety and security security barrier encompasses concerns relating


to unwanted contact online, concerns relating
remains an important to being exposed to harmful content online, and

barrier to mobile internet concerns relating to identity and other private


information being stolen or misused.
use and is particularly Safety and security concerns have consistently
strongly felt in Latin been a significant barrier in Latin America and rank
as the top barrier for the region. In both Mexico
America and Guatemala, half of mobile owners aware of
mobile internet but not using it reported this as an
While not a commonly reported top barrier, important barrier,71 and it is reported as the top
across the countries surveyed, safety and security barrier by 34% in Mexico and 26% in Guatemala (see
concerns remain an important barrier for a Figure 27). Safety and security is also commonly
significant proportion of mobile users aware of reported as an important barrier in Egypt (37%),
mobile internet but not using it. The safety and Bangladesh (29%) and Indonesia (23%).

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

Africa Asia Latin America

Harmful content Strangers Information


(Self/Family) contacting me security

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

Relevance is a common Relevance was the third most reported top


barrier to mobile internet adoption among those
barrier to mobile internet aware but not using it across surveyed countries

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

The impact of digital


language support
The majority of internet users, particularly those (DLS). The data, sourced from Derivation LLC,
who speak English, often take for granted the assesses the aggregated digital capabilities
amount of content and information available to for all languages in each country, based on the
them in their native language. Almost 60% of availability and accessibility of language-specific
websites are in English, by far the most popular hardware and software support.78
language for web content, followed by Russian at
5% and Spanish at 4%.74 Of the 6 million mobile Figure 28 shows the average DLS score by region
apps active and available on the Apple App Store, in the MCI. It demonstrates the high level of DLS
Google Play and other app platforms, almost in North America and Europe, which also have
three quarters are available in English. The next the highest mobile internet connectivity levels
most popular mobile app languages are Spanish, worldwide. On the other hand, countries in the
Arabic and Portuguese, which are available on Middle East and Africa have much lower levels
less than 40% of active mobile apps. There are of DLS, followed by Asia Pacific. Due to the
only eight languages that can be used on at least widespread use of Spanish, Portuguese or English
20% of active mobile apps – and the only non- in Latin America and Caribbean countries, more
European based languages represented in that list people in the region can access content in one of
are Standard Arabic and Japanese.75 their spoken/written languages compared to most
countries in Asia and Africa.
More than 7,000 languages are spoken in the
world. Half do not have a digital footprint, In the Middle East and North Africa, Arabic is
meaning there are no keyboards, operating typically the most common language. However,
systems or fonts available. Meanwhile, less while Standard Arabic is a widely used digital
than 0.5% of the world’s living languages are language, other varieties of Arabic that are
considered as attaining ‘full’ digital capabilities.76 often used in the region are less well supported.
This represents a digital language divide and Meanwhile, in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as
particularly affects countries that are linguistically much of Asia and especially the Pacific Islands,
diverse or where large segments of the population many speakers, readers and signers of non-digital
do not speak an ‘official’ language. To track this languages have no access to information and
language barrier, in the latest update to the GSMA communication, meaning they are excluded from
Mobile Connectivity Index,77 a new indicator digital content.
was added to measure digital language support

74. Source: Digital 2023 Global Overview Report, DataReportal, 2023


75. GSMA Intelligence analysis of data sourced from AppFigures.
76. Full
 digital capabilities are those defined as having a level of ‘Thriving’ in the DLS methodology. For further details, see Assessing Digital Language Support on a
Global Scale, Simons et al, 2022
77. 
https://www.mobileconnectivityindex.com/
78. For
 further details, see https://derivation.co/digitallanguagesupport/, https://intelligence.derivation.co/ and Assessing Digital Language Support on a Global
Scale, Simons et al, 2022

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

Source: GSMA Intelligence analysis of data sourced from Derivation

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

Mobile has provided Progress towards digital


resilience in times of inclusion is stalling
difficulty In 2022, growth in mobile internet adoption
slowed, and the coverage gap remained
Mobile internet connectivity can deliver significant unchanged, indicating that the digital divide was
economic benefits, reduce poverty and transform not going to close on its own. More needs to be
people’s lives, providing them with access to done to ensure people can access and use mobile
information and services that assists them in internet and that underserved people are not
their daily lives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, increasingly left behind.
mobile was increasingly used to meet educational
and healthcare needs, to provide access to Of the 3.4 billion people who remain unconnected
government services and to offer remote access to mobile internet, almost 90% live in an area
to job applications, particularly as many lived already covered by mobile broadband but do not
through nationwide lockdowns. use mobile internet services. The majority of these
people do not own a mobile phone, highlighting
Beyond serving as a tool for mitigating some that tackling barriers such as affordability of
of the impact of crises, at the micro-economic handsets is critical. However, even where people
level, studies have shown that expanding mobile own a smartphone, many are still not able to use
broadband coverage reduces poverty and it, drawing attention to the importance of tackling
increases household consumption. 81, 82 In addition, barriers to mobile internet adoption beyond
mobile internet is associated with higher levels of device ownership, such as ensuring people have
wellbeing among men and women. 83, 84 the required knowledge and skills, addressing
safety and security concerns, and ensuring there
Providing mobile broadband also has a positive is locally relevant content including in local
impact on the economy. Research by the languages. It is also important to ensure people
ITU shows that an increase of 10% in mobile are aware of mobile internet and how it can
broadband penetration leads to 1.5% GDP support their needs.
growth, 85 with even higher impacts of 2.5–2.8%
GDP growth in LDCs. 86 As the industry looks to the future, retirement
of 2G and 3G networks will drive greater
By not having access to the internet, the technological efficiencies. However, driving
unconnected – who are more likely to be poor, innovation and new technologies must not come
living in rural areas and women – are less able to at the cost of those who are at risk of (or have
cope with the continuing economic and social already been) left behind. The industry needs to
disruptions caused by the pandemic, climate ensure it is fostering an inclusive future for all.
change and cost-of-living crisis. This emphasises
the importance and urgency of accelerating
internet access.

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

Addressing the digital elected ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-


Martin highlighted the importance of a united
divide ranks high on the effort to connect the unconnected.90

policy agenda These efforts show that the international


community is committed in its pursuit of digital
Digital inclusion has emerged as a top policy inclusion and addressing the challenges laid out
priority worldwide. In 2022, various stakeholders in this report. It is now up to all stakeholders to
came together to raise awareness and address translate such global priorities into action at the
the digital divide on the global stage. Notable national and sub-national levels, focusing on
efforts, such as the UN's Global Digital Compact policies that help ensure meaningful connectivity
initiative, the G20 Leaders’ Summit, and the ITU's for all.
Plenipotentiary Conference and elections brought
digital inclusion to the forefront of global policy
discussions.

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

Knowledge Affordability of Safety and


Relevance Access
and skills handsets and data security

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

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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

Survey methodology Question on smartphone


In all countries, a nationally representative
ownership
sample of around 1,000 adults aged 18 and
above was surveyed – with the exception Survey respondents were asked “Do you have a
of India and China, 93 where the sample was mobile phone that you have the sole or main use
around 2,000. The sampling frame was of? This may be a handset that you carry with
predominantly based on data from national you most days”.
statistics offices, including census data where
possible and a range of other sources. To ensure They were then asked a follow-up question,
a nationally representative sample, quotas were “What type of mobile phone is that?” and to
applied in line with census data. 94 To ensure select from one of the following answers:
a representative geographical distribution of
interview subjects, particularly urban versus —A  basic mobile phone
rural, around 100 sampling points were used per — A feature mobile phone
country. However, very remote areas or areas — A smartphone
with security concerns were excluded.
The research used a mix of purposive and In this report, a respondent in the GSMA
random sampling approaches. Interviews were Consumer Survey is considered a smartphone
conducted under the direction of Ipsos with owner if they have a smartphone that they have
individuals in their local language, typically on the sole or main use of.
the doorstep of the home due to COVID-19
safety precautions. Data was collected using
computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI).
Both female and male interviewers conducted Question on awareness
the surveys. Data was weighted to known
population profiles to correct any imbalances in Survey respondents were asked “Which of the
the distributions achieved during fieldwork. following best describes your knowledge of
accessing the internet on a mobile phone?” and
to select from one of the following answers:

Question on mobile — I was not aware it is possible to access the


internet on a mobile phone
internet use — I was aware it is possible to access the internet
on a mobile phone
Survey respondents were asked “Have you ever
used the internet on a mobile phone?” and to In this report, a respondent in the GSMA
select from one of the following answers: Consumer Survey is aware of mobile internet
if they have ever used the internet on a mobile
—Y  es, I have used the internet on a mobile phone, or are aware it is possible to access the
phone in the last three months internet on a mobile phone.
— Yes, I have used the internet on a mobile
phone longer than three months ago
— No, I have never used the internet on a
mobile phone
— Don’t know

In this report, a respondent in the GSMA


Consumer Survey is considered a mobile internet
user if they have used the internet on a mobile
phone in the last three months.

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).

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THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023

Question on barriers to mobile internet use


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?

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.

Literacy and digital skills Safety and security

— 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

—T  here is not enough in my own language —T  here is limited or no coverage to access


on the internet the internet in my area
— I do not find the internet relevant enough — Using the internet on my mobile phone is
for me (not useful or not interesting) too slow (e.g. connection speeds)
— My family does not approve of me using
the internet on a mobile phone
— It is hard to find a mobile phone agent
Affordability or representative to buy mobile internet
data from
—T
 he cost of buying a mobile phone that — Using the internet on my mobile phone
can access the internet is too high for me uses too much battery
—T
 he cost of buying data to use the — I cannot borrow or pay to use internet on
internet on my mobile is too high for me another person’s phone
— It is hard to find somewhere to buy a
mobile phone which is able to connect to
the internet

69
APPENDIX 1: THE GSMA CONSUMER SURVEY

Question on mobile internet —V


 isit social networking websites on a mobile
phone (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Kakao, LinkedIn,
activities Pinterest)

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

—  t least once a day


A —G
 et information about products and services
— At least once a week on a mobile phone (e.g. pricing, availability)
— At least once a month
— Less than once a month —O
 rder and/or purchase goods or services
— Never use online on a mobile phone

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

— Read the news on a mobile phone.

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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

Mobile data cost



Estimating the cost (or price) of mobile internet services is a complex task,
given the wide range of available tariffs. This is particularly the case in
LMICs, where more than 80% of SIMs in 2022 used prepaid plans. A single
operator in a given country will often have a large number of tariffs that
consumers can choose from, with different data allowances and validity
periods (e.g. daily, weekly or monthly allowances). Tariffs can also vary
based on the service available (e.g. 3G, 4G or 5G), customer segments (e.g.
discounts for younger or older users) and additional ‘value-add’ services
(e.g. reduced prices for roaming or certain content). Furthermore, such
tariffs can change regularly over time. To compare prices on a comparable
basis across countries, we use a ‘basket’ approach: we look at the cheapest
way a consumer can access 1 GB and 5 GB of data per month from any
national operator in each market.95

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

Countries with >10% coverage gap Protracted crisis Climate risk


Afghanistan
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo
Congo; Democratic Republic
Cuba
Djibouti
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Gambia
Haiti
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Micronesia
Mozambique
Namibia
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Sudan Lack of available data
Sudan
Tanzania
Tuvalu Lack of available data
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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

Egypt 24% 22% 3% 6% 2% 2% 5% 3% 21% 16% 6% 3% 2% 2% 11% 12% 0% 3% 5% 3% 0% 6% 2% 8% 0% 2% 6% 2% 6% 7% 0% 1% 4% 0% 4% 0% 0% 0%

Ethiopia 39% 29% 3% 3% 13% 10% 1% 2% 4% 28% 7% 3% 1% 1% 11% 5% 2% 0% 1% 1% 3% 1% 0% 1% 0% 2% 5% 8% 2% 0% 0% 0% 2% 2% 1% 0% 5% 4%

Ghana 50% 45% 8% 5% 4% 7% 4% 0% 15% 15% 4% 3% 0% 3% 9% 12% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0% 2% 1% 0% 2% 1% 0% 1% 1% 2% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 2% 1% 1%


AFRICA

Kenya 51% 52% 4% 6% 4% 3% 0% 1% 2% 7% 4% 3% 3% 1% 13% 13% 0% 1% 9% 3% 3% 0% 0% 2% 1% 4% 0% 1% 0% 0% 1% 0% 1% 0% 2% 0% 1% 2%

Nigeria 39% 34% 4% 6% 2% 4% 3% 3% 20% 29% 2% 2% 3% 0% 11% 7% 2% 1% 2% 2% 4% 1% 2% 2% 0% 0% 1% 2% 4% 2% 0% 0% 1% 2% 0% 2% 1% 0%

Senegal 49% 57% 2% 4% 8% 2% 5% 0% 7% 12% 8% 4% 0% 1% 5% 6% 0% 0% 2% 1% 0% 1% 6% 2% 0% 1% 5% 2% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 2% 0% 4% 3% 0%

Bangladesh 3% 11% 4% 3% 6% 4% 4% 5% 25% 18% 2% 4% 3% 1% 20% 16% 2% 4% 4% 7% 6% 6% 5% 2% 0% 0% 4% 4% 5% 8% 0% 0% 4% 2% 2% 1% 0% 2%

India 14% 15% 8% 4% 13% 15% 6% 1% 16% 16% 3% 6% 4% 2% 5% 5% 5% 2% 3% 3% 0% 1% 2% 9% 2% 6% 6% 4% 2% 4% 2% 1% 5% 2% 1% 3% 2% 0%


ASIA

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%

Pakistan 18% 14% 4% 4% 1% 4% 7% 8% 29% 19% 3% 3% 3% 1% 15% 11% 3% 6% 0% 3% 1% 3% 0% 3% 0% 1% 1% 2% 10% 9% 0% 1% 1% 2% 1% 3% 2% 1%

Guatemala 7% 12% 9% 8% 9% 7% 0% 2% 14% 23% 9% 2% 2% 2% 2% 0% 0% 0% 7% 9% 10% 7% 11% 7% 7% 6% 2% 6% 0% 0% 0% 0% 4% 6% 0% 2% 3% 2%


AMERICA
LATIN

Mexico 20% - 6% - 3% - 6% - 5% - 4% - 4% - 2% - 0% - 10% - 14% - 16% - 2% - 2% - 2% - 0% - 2% - 2% - 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

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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

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%


2019
2020
Instant messaging 2021
2022
2019
2020
Call online 2021
2022
2019
2020
Video call 2021
2022
2019
2020
Free online video 2021
2022
2019
2020
News 2021
2022
2019
2020
Free games 2021
2022
2019
2020
Education 2021
2022
2019
2020
Free online music 2021
2022
2019
2020
Get information 2021
2022
2019
2020
Health 2021
2022
2019
2020
Order goods/service 2021
2022
2019
2020
Manage bills 2021
2022
2019
Government services 2020
2021
2022
2019
Job application 2020
2021
2022

Daily Weekly Monthly

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

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THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023 THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023

Appendix 4:
Glossary

‘The connected’ or ‘connected population’ refers to people who use


Connected mobile internet. ‘The unconnected’ refers to those who do not use
mobile internet.
‘Population coverage’ is the share of the population that lives in an area
where the signal provided by a mobile network is strong enough to use
Coverage
telecoms services (voice, SMS, data). The coverage provided by 2G, 3G
or 4G networks100 are independent from each other.
Populations that do not live within the footprint of a mobile broadband
Coverage gap
network.
A mobile handset that allows basic access to internet-based services
but on a closed platform that does not support a broad range of
Feature phone
applications. The handset supports additional features such as a camera
and the ability to play multimedia files such as music and video.
Countries classified as low-income countries that are facing severe
Least developed structural impediments to sustainable development. They are highly
countries (LDCs) vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks and have low levels of
human assets.
Low- and
middle-income Countries classified as low income, lower-middle income and upper-
countries middle income by the World Bank Country and Lending Groups.
(LMICs)
A unique SIM card (or phone number, where SIM cards are not used) that
Mobile
has been registered on a mobile network. Connections differ from sub-
connection
scribers in that a unique subscriber can have multiple connections.
Mobile
3G, 4G or 5G technologies.
broadband

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.

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THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023

A feature phone that has an operating system that supports a range of


Smart feature applications created by third-party developers and that is formatted to
phone work on a smaller screen and accessed via a nine-key layout, not a touch
screen.

A mobile handset enabling advanced access to internet-based services


and other digital functions. Smartphone platforms, such as Android
Smartphone
and iOS, support a broad range of applications created by third-party
developers.
The GSMA Intelligence unique subscriber dataset uses insights from
the annual GSMA Consumer Survey that looks at the habits of mobile
users around the world. Since 2016 we have reviewed and analysed the
annual results of the survey from 56 countries (accounting for more than
Unique 70% of the world’s population), alongside external sources and existing
subscribers knowledge enabling us to calculate subscriber, mobile internet and
smartphone penetration. We then use the GSMA Consumer Survey as a
benchmark for different regions around the world, taking into account
macroeconomic indicators and growth potential and current mobile use
cases.
Populations that live within the footprint of a mobile broadband network
Usage gap
but do not use mobile internet.

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THE STATE OF MOBILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 2023

www.gsma.com/somic

80
GSMA Head Office
1 Angel Lane
London
EC4R 3AB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7356 0600
Fax: +44 (0)20 7356 0601

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