Information Technology
GSMA calls for renewed focus on closing the Usage Gap as more than 3 billion people remain offline despite available mobile internet services
A further 300 million people (4% of the global population) live in what is labelled the Coverage Gap, lacking any available mobile internet connectivity.
This means that 3.4 billion people globally remained unconnected to mobile internet services in 2024. The overwhelming majority live in areas with available coverage they remain unable or unwilling to use.
Mobile remains the primary, and in many cases only, way most people access the internet in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and now accounts for 84% of global internet connections. The vast majority (93%) of the unconnected live in LMICs.
Across LMICs, the affordability of an entry-level, internet-enabled device has remained relatively unchanged since 2021 and represents 16% of average monthly income, increasing to 48% for the poorest 20%.
Vivek Badrinath , Director General of the GSMA, comments:
To read the full report and for more information, see here.
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