- 95% of the world is now covered by mobile broadband networks, but 40% of the 
population covered by these networks face other barriers that prevent them 
getting online

Ensuring people are able to use mobile internet, rather than focusing purely on 
network coverage, is the key to driving digital inclusion for 3.2 billion 
people worldwide, according to statistics released by the GSMA today.

The organisation's annual State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 
[https://www.gsma.com/r/somic/] shows that 95% of the global population now 
lives in areas served by mobile broadband connectivity, and that enabled by 
that coverage footprint, 55% of the world's population is now connected to 
mobile internet. Providing coverage to the remaining 5% (the "coverage gap") 
remains an important challenge.

However, the bigger issue is the 3.2 billion people, equivalent to 40% of the 
world's population, who are covered by a mobile broadband network but face 
barriers that prevent them from getting online (the "usage gap"). These include:

- A lack of literacy and digital skills
- Affordability (particularly handset affordability)
- Access to relevant content and services
- Safety and security concerns and access

The impacts of these challenges have far-reaching consequences, especially in 
low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where mobile is the primary – and in 
many cases only – form of internet access.

94% of the world's "unconnected" population – who are more likely to be poor, 
living in rural areas and women – live in LMICs. Lack of internet access holds 
them back from playing an active role in an increasingly online world, making 
them less able to cope with the continuing economic and social disruptions 
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, rising energy prices and the 
cost-of-living crisis. These barriers also prevent them from being able to 
access critical information and services such as healthcare, education, 
e-commerce, financial services and income-generating opportunities.

GSMA Director General Mats Granryd said: "More than 55% of people globally are 
now benefitting from the transformational power of mobile internet 
connectivity. Mobile operators worldwide have now extended mobile coverage to 
95% of the global population, and continue investing every day to increase that 
footprint. We should celebrate that achievement, but we shouldn't let it blind 
us to the even bigger challenge.

"It's time to make real strides on the journey to reach the 3.2 billion people 
who are not yet using mobile internet despite living within the footprint of 
mobile broadband networks. We call on governments and organisations worldwide 
to work alongside the mobile industry and make digital inclusion a genuine 
priority. Removing barriers to mobile internet adoption will boost economic 
recovery, improve social mobility and gender equality, and transform the lives 
of millions worldwide."

Important trends

Whilst the report highlighted the importance of increased focus on addressing 
the "usage gap" it also revealed a number of important trends:

- Use of mobile internet is still growing, and driving digital inclusion. By 
the end of 2021, 4.3 billion people were using mobile internet or 55% of the 
world's population, up from 43% in 2017.
- Almost 300 million people came online in the past year. Most of the people 
who started using mobile internet in 2021 came from LMICs where 94% of the 
unconnected population live. As a result, for the first time half of the 
population LMICs is now using mobile internet.
- Globally, the coverage gap reduced substantially over the last 7 years. The 
percentage of people outside the reach of mobile broadband networks fell from 
19% in 2015 to 5% at the end of 2021. However, there is no room for 
complacency: 400 million people worldwide still do not live in an area covered 
by a mobile broadband network, and progress has slowed since 2018.

While important progress has been achieved in increasing internet adoption and 
usage, the report, which was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and 
Development Office (FCDO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation 
Agency (Sida) via the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation, demonstrates that 
growth has been unequal and there is a growing digital divide between and 
within countries. It concludes that strong collective effort is needed to close 
the digital divide. This requires informed, targeted action by all 
stakeholders, including mobile operators, policymakers, international partners 
and the broader private sector to address the needs of the unconnected and the 
barriers they face to accessing and using the internet.

Addressing the mobile internet usage gap will be a focus of this year's MWC 
Africa event in Kigali, Rwanda, which starts next week. For more information on 
MWC Africa, including how to attend, see: https://www.mwc-africa.com.

The GSMA's State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2022 is available at: 
https://www.gsma.com/r/somic/.

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, 
develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments 
and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so 
that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and 
organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA 
delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, 
Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing 
policy, tackling today's biggest societal 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 
series of events.

We invite you to find out more at https://www.gsma.com.

About GSMA Connected Society

The Connected Society programme works with the mobile industry, technology 
companies, the development community and governments to increase access to and 
adoption of mobile internet, focusing on underserved population groups in 
developing markets.

This report is the output of a GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation project 
funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the 
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The views 
expressed are not necessarily those of either organisation.

For more information, please visit 
https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/connected-society/.

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Source: GSMA