The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2026 is now available. This page remains available as an archive of the 2025 report series and supporting resources.
The fifth report in the series focuses on the barriers people face to adopting mobile internet and using it more, as well as how these differ by country and whether they live in a rural or urban area.
Of the 3.4 billion people not using mobile internet, just over 90% live in an area covered by mobile broadband but are not using it (the usage gap). Addressing this is critical to bridging the digital divide. However, based on current connectivity trends, it is projected to take more than 30 years to close the usage gap. While the usage gap has been shrinking slowly, there remain 3.1 billion people (38% of the global population) living in areas covered by mobile broadband but not using it.
Key barriers to mobile internet adoption include a lack of awareness of mobile internet and, once aware, not being able to afford an internet-enabled phone, and a lack of literacy and digital skills. Even among existing mobile internet users, many want to use the internet more but face barriers. These include safety and security concerns, affordability and the connectivity experience. Lack of perceived relevance also contributes to limited use.
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In 96% of the world, the infrastructure is in place for people to get online via mobile. Removing the remaining barriers to using these services is essential to ensuring existing digital divides are reduced rather than deepened and many more of these 3.1 billion people can benefit from life-changing connectivity.
Vivek Badrinath, Director General, GSMA
Explore the chapters
1. An overview of the barriers
This chapter outlines the key barriers to mobile internet adoption and use: affordability, knowledge and skills, safety and security, relevance, and fundamental enablers, highlighting their disproportionate impact on women, rural populations and persons with disabilities.
2. The mobile internet user journey
People drop off at every stage of the journey to mobile internet use, with sharper declines among certain countries and demographics. This chapter outlines six stages of the journey and highlights where the steepest drop-offs occur.
3. Barriers at key stages in the mobile internet user journey
Barriers to mobile internet adoption and use differ by country, demographic and stage of user journey. This chapter examines the top reported barriers to adoption and further use, comparing experiences across urban and rural populations.
4. Awareness of mobile internet
While overall awareness of mobile internet is high, it remains a critical initial barrier to adoption in many contexts. The rate of growth has slowed, and awareness remains lower for women and those in rural areas.
5. Barriers to mobile internet adoption among those aware of it
Affordability (particularly of handsets) and literacy and digital skills remain the top barriers to mobile internet adoption among those aware of it. This chapter examines how the barriers vary across countries and demographic groups and provides more detail on these top barriers.
6. Barriers to further use for existing users
Existing mobile internet users still face barriers to greater use of mobile internet, which vary significantly across countries. This chapter identifies the top barriers as safety and security concerns, affordability (particularly of data), and the connectivity experience.
The Connected Society programme is currently funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through its Global Research and Technology Development Portfolio, and by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and is supported by the GSMA and its members.
