The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2024

More people than ever before are now accessing the internet through mobile devices. By the end of 2023, 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 remained flat, and significant digital divides persist. Closing these digital divides brings significant socioeconomic benefits and is more crucial than ever.

Despite the benefits of connectivity, 39% of the global population are living within mobile broadband coverage but are not using it – the usage gap. Furthermore, 4% are still not covered by mobile broadband – the coverage gap.

In The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2024 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. For the first time, it also includes an analysis of the barriers to further use of mobile internet, connectivity among children, and the economic impact of closing the usage gap. 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 173 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
2023
18 %
4 %

Coverage gap

49 %
39 %

Usage gap

33 %
57 %

Connected

East Asia

2015
2023
5 %
1 %

Coverage gap

48 %
27 %

Usage gap

47 %
72 %

Connected

Sub-Saharan Africa

2015
2023
46 %
13 %

Coverage gap

42 %
60 %

Usage gap

11 %
27 %

Connected

Latin America & Caribbean

2015
2023
15 %
6 %

Coverage gap

49 %
33 %

Usage gap

36 %
62 %

Connected

South Asia

2015
2023
30 %
4 %

Coverage gap

58 %
50 %

Usage gap

12 %
46 %

Connected

Middle East & North Africa

2015
2023
23 %
4 %

Coverage gap

47 %
47 %

Usage gap

30 %
49 %

Connected

North America

2015
2023
1 %
1 %

Coverage gap

37 %
19 %

Usage gap

62 %
80 %

Connected

Europe & Central Asia

2015
2023
6 %
1 %

Coverage gap

43 %
24 %

Usage gap

51 %
75 %

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 2023, 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 2023.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2023.
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 2023, 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 2023.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2023.
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 2023, 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 2023.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2023.
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 2023, 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 2023.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2023.
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 2023, 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 2023.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2023.
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 2023, 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 2023.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2023.
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 2023, 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 2023.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2023.
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 2023, 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 2023.
This graph shows the trend in download speed from 2015 to 2023.
Key:
Coverage gap
Usage gap
Connected
3G
4G
5G
Download speed

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