Overview Report - M4D - SOMIC

A man in a brown knitted hat and dark jacket sits on a step, smiling as he holds a mobile phone for a selfie. Beside him, a woman in a bright pink sari and scarf crouches, also smiling, with a wooden door and sunlight in the background.

Overview Report

A comprehensive overview of connectivity trends, challenges and opportunities for digital inclusion.

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Overview Report

Trends in Mobile Internet Connectivity

Network Coverage and Infrastructure

Understanding Mobile Internet Use in LMICs

Barriers to Mobile Internet Adoption and Use

Affordability of Internet-Enabled Handsets and Data

Mobile Connectivity Index

At a glance

For the first time, the GSMA is publishing The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity research as a series of six publications. This report is the first in the series and summarises the key findings from the other five publications. Each of the remaining reports offers a more in-depth exploration of a specific topic, including regional, country and demographic specific analysis.

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Key findings

58%

of the world’s population
are now using mobile internet

Two women sit outdoors on a jetty, closely looking at a mobile phone and smiling. One wears a red top; the other wears a black-and-white striped dress. A man stands behind them near fishing boats moored on brownish water under a clear blue sky.

200M

people started using mobile internet in 2024

38%

of the world’s population
live within mobile broadband
coverage but are not using it

4%

of the world’s population are still not covered by mobile broadband

93%

of the unconnected
live in LMICs

A man wearing a yellow shirt stands outdoors, talking on a mobile phone. He is next to a bicycle loaded with large pieces of wood and some green grass. The background shows a road and a blurred natural landscape.

54%

of the world’s population own a smartphone

A woman in a yellow and pink saree with a blue jumper sits among colourful fabrics, smiling whilst looking at a mobile phone. She has a red bindi on her forehead and is surrounded by vibrant textiles at a market stall.

The top barriers to
mobile internet adoption are Affordability
and Literacy & digital skills

The top barriers to further use are Safety and security, Affordability and Connectivity experience

1.6BN

A device of $30 could make handsets affordable to 1.6bn people

Key findings in French

Key findings in Spanish

“
Mobile internet is transforming lives and economies, but too many people remain excluded from its benefits. This report series highlights the scale of the challenge and the opportunities to accelerate progress towards digital inclusion for all.
Matthew Shanahan, Senior Insights Manager (report author)

Explore the chapters

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1. Trends in mobile internet connectivity

More people than ever before are now accessing the internet through mobile devices, but significant digital divides persist. It is critical to understand the key trends in mobile internet connectivity and how they vary by geography and demographic.

Three tall mobile phone masts stand between rugged, reddish-brown rocky hills under a cloudy sky. The scene is remote and arid, with sparse vegetation on the slopes and dramatic clouds overhead, highlighting the contrast between technology and nature.

2. Network coverage and infrastructure

Network coverage and infrastructure continue to expand. Understanding these trends is important as they impact people’s ability to access the internet and their experience when doing so.

A person wearing patterned clothing uses a mobile phone outdoors. Their hands are visible as they scroll through images on the phone. The background shows blurred reddish-brown ground and part of another person in a brightly coloured floral outfit.

3. Understanding mobile internet use in low- and middle-income countries

It is important to ensure people are not only able to adopt mobile internet but also use it regularly and for a range of use cases that meet their needs.

An elderly woman in a colourful headscarf and light blue traditional clothing sits cross-legged on a bed outdoors, smiling as she uses a mobile phone. The background shows a plain wall and some items out of focus. She looks engaged and content.

4. Barriers to mobile internet adoption and use

Understanding where people encounter barriers on the journey to being able to use mobile internet and the barriers they face at each stage is essential for targeting action to drive increased digital inclusion.

A woman wearing a colourful knitted hat and leopard-print top stands in a lush green field, holding a wooden stick and looking at a mobile phone. Tall green plants surround her, with banana trees and a blue sky in the background.

5. Affordability of internet-enabled handsets and data

Affordability plays a significant role in device ownership and is the top reported barrier to mobile internet adoption across LMICs. It is important to examine affordability trends closely to understand the scale of the challenge.

A middle-aged man with short curly hair, wearing a dark jumper, grey apron, and pink measuring tape around his neck, stands indoors looking intently at a mobile phone in his hand; background is blurred and partially obscured.

6. Call to action

Coordinated, targeted action by mobile operators, governments and other stakeholders globally is vital to ensure progress is inclusive for all.

The Connected Society programme is supported by UK International Development from the UK Government and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and is supported by the GSMA and its members.