The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2023

Mobile internet is connecting more people to the internet than ever before. By the end of 2022, the number of people using mobile internet increased to 4.6 billion people (57% of the global population). However, the growth rate at which people are adopting mobile internet has slowed in the last year, and significant digital divides persist. 

Despite the benefits of connectivity, 38% of the global population are living within mobile broadband coverage but are not using it – the usage gap. Furthermore, 5% are still not covered by mobile broadband – the coverage gap. 

In The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2023 we provide the mobile industry and other stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of the trends in global connectivity, as well as insights on key barriers to mobile internet adoption and use. It includes, for the first time, data on the device type people are using to connect, revealing significant regional variations. It also outlines recommendations for tackling the persistent gaps to digital inclusion.

Further country-level data can be found in the GSMA Mobile Connectivity Index, a tool which measures the performance of 170 countries against the key enablers of mobile internet adoption: infrastructure; affordability; consumer readiness; and content and services. The Index was developed as part of the mobile industry’s commitment to drive mobile internet connectivity and accelerate digital inclusion.

 

State of mobile internet connectivity, by region

Click on a region to see the data

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

Global

2015
2022
18 %
5 %

Coverage gap

47 %
38 %

Usage gap

35 %
57 %

Connected

East Asia

2015
2022
5 %
2 %

Coverage gap

50 %
28 %

Usage gap

45 %
71 %

Connected

Sub-Saharan Africa

2015
2022
46 %
15 %

Coverage gap

41 %
59 %

Usage gap

12 %
25 %

Connected

Latin America & Caribbean

2015
2022
15 %
6 %

Coverage gap

44 %
32 %

Usage gap

40 %
62 %

Connected

South Asia

2015
2022
30 %
4 %

Coverage gap

50 %
52 %

Usage gap

20 %
44 %

Connected

Middle East & North Africa

2015
2022
23 %
4 %

Coverage gap

49 %
44 %

Usage gap

28 %
51 %

Connected

North America

2015
2022
1 %
1 %

Coverage gap

41 %
14 %

Usage gap

58 %
85 %

Connected

Europe & Central Asia

2015
2022
6 %
2 %

Coverage gap

38 %
19 %

Usage gap

55 %
79 %

Connected

  • Global
  • East Asia
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Latin America & Caribbean
  • South Asia
  • Middle East & North Africa
  • North America
  • Europe & Central Asia
Mobile internet connectivity
3G, 4G & 5G
Download speeds
This graph shows the evolution of global mobile internet connectivity from 2015 to 2022, including the percentage of people connected, the coverage gap and the usage gap.
This graph shows the trend in 3G, 4G and 5G coverage from 2015 to 2022.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2022.
Key:
Coverage gap
Usage gap
Connected
3G
4G
5G
Download speed
Mobile internet connectivity
3G, 4G & 5G
Download speeds
This graph shows the evolution of global mobile internet connectivity from 2015 to 2022, including the percentage of people connected, the coverage gap and the usage gap.
This graph shows the trend in 3G, 4G and 5G coverage from 2015 to 2022.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2022.
Key:
Coverage gap
Usage gap
Connected
3G
4G
5G
Download speed
Mobile internet connectivity
3G, 4G & 5G
Download speeds
This graph shows the evolution of global mobile internet connectivity from 2015 to 2022, including the percentage of people connected, the coverage gap and the usage gap.
This graph shows the trend in 3G, 4G and 5G coverage from 2015 to 2022.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2022.
Key:
Coverage gap
Usage gap
Connected
3G
4G
5G
Download speed
Mobile internet connectivity
3G, 4G & 5G
Download speeds
This graph shows the evolution of global mobile internet connectivity from 2015 to 2022, including the percentage of people connected, the coverage gap and the usage gap.
This graph shows the trend in 3G, 4G and 5G coverage from 2015 to 2022.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2022.
Key:
Coverage gap
Usage gap
Connected
3G
4G
5G
Download speed
Mobile internet connectivity
3G, 4G & 5G
Download speeds
This graph shows the evolution of global mobile internet connectivity from 2015 to 2022, including the percentage of people connected, the coverage gap and the usage gap.
This graph shows the trend in 3G, 4G and 5G coverage from 2015 to 2022.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2022.
Key:
Coverage gap
Usage gap
Connected
3G
4G
5G
Download speed
Mobile internet connectivity
3G, 4G & 5G
Download speeds
This graph shows the evolution of global mobile internet connectivity from 2015 to 2022, including the percentage of people connected, the coverage gap and the usage gap.
This graph shows the trend in 3G, 4G and 5G coverage from 2015 to 2022.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2022.
Key:
Coverage gap
Usage gap
Connected
3G
4G
5G
Download speed
Mobile internet connectivity
3G, 4G & 5G
Download speeds
This graph shows the evolution of global mobile internet connectivity from 2015 to 2022, including the percentage of people connected, the coverage gap and the usage gap.
This graph shows the trend in 3G, 4G and 5G coverage from 2015 to 2022.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2022.
Key:
Coverage gap
Usage gap
Connected
3G
4G
5G
Download speed
Mobile internet connectivity
3G, 4G & 5G
Download speeds
This graph shows the evolution of global mobile internet connectivity from 2015 to 2022, including the percentage of people connected, the coverage gap and the usage gap.
This graph shows the trend in 3G, 4G and 5G coverage from 2015 to 2022.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2022.
Key:
Coverage gap
Usage gap
Connected
3G
4G
5G
Download speed

Regional Resources

Previous Reports and Resources

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