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The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2026

A comprehensive overview of the trends in global connectivity and the key barriers to mobile internet adoption.

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About the report

Mobile Connectivity Index

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About the report

By the end of 2025, the number of people using mobile internet increased to 4.8 billion people (59% of the global population). However, growth in mobile internet subscribers has slowed, with low growth rates across all regions. 3.4 billion people still do not use mobile internet, and significant digital divides persist. As advancements in technologies such as AI accelerate the pace of digitalisation, it is more critical than ever to ensure no one is left behind.

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, 3% are still not covered by mobile broadband – the coverage gap.

In The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2026, 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 to further use of mobile internet among existing users. This year, the report also focuses on the rising cost of memory and how this is negatively impacting the affordability of internet-enabled devices. 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 174 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.

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“
Mobile internet continues to transform lives and economies, yet 3.4 billion people remain unconnected and growth in new subscribers is slowing. AI is accelerating the pace of digitalisation, but is also driving up the price of memory, making internet-enabled devices increasingly unaffordable. This report sets out the scale of the challenge and what must be done to accelerate progress towards digital inclusion for all.”
Matthew Shanahan, Senior Insights Manager (lead author)

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Previous reports

Browse past editions of The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity.

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