Mobile internet is connecting more people to the internet than ever before. However, more than 3.4 billion people are excluded from its transformative benefits. Successfully addressing this digital divide requires a data-driven approach as every country has their own, unique path towards digital growth while resources are limited. Data and evidence are key to decide on policy priorities, set targets, allocate budgets, evaluate progress and direct efforts where most impact can be achieved.
The GSMA’s Mobile Connectivity Index (MCI) can help with such an evidence-based approach. The MCI is a freely accessible tool that tracks the performance of key enablers to mobile connectivity across 173 countries. With the latest update in July, the MCI now has a decade’s worth of data.
For the launch of the latest MCI update, the GSMA’s Digital Inclusion team hosted an online event and was joined by partners from the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). Here are key takeaways from the online session:
The Mobile Connectivity Index tracks 32 indicators, many unique to other indices
The MCI is structured around four connectivity enablers: Infrastructure, Affordability, Consumer Readiness, Content & Services. Each of these enablers is broken down into dimensions and further into indicators, totalling 32 indicators aggregated into 11 dimensions. For example, under ‘Infrastructure’, one of the dimensions ‘network coverage’ is measured by indicators 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G coverage. Under ‘Affordability’ the dimension ‘handset affordability’ consists of device affordability and device affordability for the poorest 40% of the population. Each indicator is indexed on a score from 0-100, allowing for aggregation and cross country (or region) comparison.
Figure 1: Mobile Connectivity Index Enablers
Clustering countries by MCI scores allows for setting realistic goals and learning from peers
The MCI categorises countries into five clusters based on their overall scores: Discoverer, Emerging, Transitioner, Advanced, and Leader (see Figure 2). This clustering allows countries to set realistic goals by comparing themselves with peers at similar stages of connectivity development. The goal for a country could be to move from one cluster to the next. We ranked countries according to their overall performance in 2023 as well as according to by how much their MCI scores improved over the past five years. Countries that improved most are different from the top scoring ones. For example, Brazil, India, and Ethiopia have shown remarkable improvements over the past five years, with Brazil advancing 16 points on the MCI.
Figure 2: Top performers and most improved by cluster in 2023
Each country can increase their MCI scores in different ways
There are multiple ways countries can increase their performance on the MCI. For example, Ethiopia’s performance over the past five years was mostly driven by improvements in network performance, mobile data affordability and handset affordability (Figure 3). Network coverage and gender equality also improved while mobile ownership, basic skills and local relevance remained flat. Further insights into Ethiopia’s performance could be gained by looking at changes in underlying indicators of the dimensions in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Evolution of Ethiopia’s MCI dimension scores
Using the MCI for evidence-based policymaking follows a five-step process
Policymakers can leverage the MCI following a five-step process (Figure 4) to improve mobile internet coverage, adoption, and usage.
Steps include reviewing a country’s performance on the various indicators of the MCI and benchmarking the performance against global and regional peers. Next is to prioritise which areas to work on. While addressing the lowest-performing metrics is important, it’s equally relevant to consider metrics that have stagnated or where significant gaps exist compared to peer countries.
Following prioritisation, it is important to assess underlying reasons for the performance on the indicators selected. This should include a policy assessment as well as stakeholder consultations.
The final step is to develop and implement policies that fit agreed priorities. Such policies should be developed in collaboration with stakeholders and include clear, measurable targets, allowing governments to monitor progress and help inform further policy action.
Figure 4: The MCI in the policy cycle
Policymakers can follow these guidelines at their own speed, or through an MCI workshop in partnership with the GSMA. These workshops provide a hands-on learning experience, allowing participants to delve deeper into the MCI data and develop actionable policy recommendations.
Governments and other partners use the MCI to advance connectivity for all with support from the GSMA
Partnerships between governments, mobile operators, international organisations, and the wider mobile ecosystem are crucial for evidence-based policymaking. Given the diverse set of metrics impacting digital inclusion, responsibility for improving them do not lie within a single government body, but across various stakeholders. Effective collaboration is therefore essential to accelerate mobile connectivity for all.
The GSMA supports various partners implementing the MCI for evidence-based impact, including through workshops and exchanging knowledge. To date, the GSMA’s Digital Inclusion team has trained over 400 policymakers on the MCI during workshops held with governments in Malawi, Nigeria, Pakistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe as well as with regional telecommunications bodies in Central and Southern Africa. The MCI workshops are often organised in partnership with the Ministry of ICT or the telecoms authority, inviting diverse stakeholders including mobile operators, various ministries as well as international development partners.
During the online event on the MCI, the Director General of Malawi’s Communications Authority (MACRA), Daud Suleman, shared learnings from partnering with the GSMA on a MCI workshop. Participants in the workshop highlighted several key policy priority areas, including addressing the mobile gender gap in Malawi, improving digital skills, reviewing spectrum pricing, and reviewing taxation of devices which can negatively impact handset affordability. Following the workshop, MACRA committed to developing an Action Plan, and the government is now implementing projects related to the policy priority areas identified. Director General Suleman encouraged governments that are willing to improve mobile connectivity to leverage the MCI in partnership with the GSMA.
International partners have also integrated MCI data into their own initiatives to drive evidence-based digital policies. USAID employs MCI data as part of its Country Roadmaps analytical tool to assess the economic capacity and mobile connectivity of countries. Furthermore, UNDP uses MCI data as part of its Digital Development Compass which provides a snapshot of a country’s digital readiness. UNCDF incorporates MCI as part of its Inclusive Digital Economy Scorecards (IDES). During the online MCI session, the Global Digital Lead of UNCDF, François Coupienne, shared how they leverage the MCI as part of IDES. To date, IDES has informed seventeen draft and ten enacted policy actions globally. For example, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance in Uganda has used IDES to guide the development of its digital transformation roadmap, imbedding the data in their digital transformation journey. This shows the value the MCI has for other partners in combination with their own efforts.
By working together on an evidence-based approaches to policymaking we can make real strides in tackling the digital divide
All sound policymaking starts with having reliable data and a solid understanding of each country’s unique connectivity context. This knowledge empowers decision-makers to identify priorities, set achievable targets, and allocate resources. The GSMA’s Mobile Connectivity Index is a valuable tool that can help with such efforts to shape evidence-based policy decisions. The GSMA remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing. By working together and leveraging the data and insights available to support efforts to bridge the digital divide, we can make significant strides towards a more connected world for all.
You can access the MCI and download the data here.
The Connected Society programme is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and supported by the GSMA and its members.
