Nearly Half of Global Population Lacks Mobile Internet Access, GSMA Warns of Barriers in Affordability and Skills

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A new report from the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) highlights a significant digital divide, revealing that 43% of the world’s population remains without access to mobile internet. The “State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2024” report estimates this figure at approximately 3.45 billion people, with device affordability and limited digital skills emerging as the primary obstacles to access.

In 2023, about 160 million people went online via mobile internet for the first time, consistent with 2022 but lower than the growth seen from 2015 to 2021, when the average annual increase reached 200 million. The report, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), calls for strengthened collaboration among governments, network operators, and international organizations to bridge the connectivity gap.

The GSMA’s findings indicate that, globally, 4.6 billion individuals currently use mobile internet on personal devices. However, 350 million people—around 4% of the global population—reside in areas without mobile network coverage. An additional 3.1 billion people (39%) live within range of mobile networks but are not using them.

The disparity is particularly pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa, where only 27% of people use mobile internet, leaving a 13% coverage gap and a 60% usage gap. Addressing this 3.1 billion-person usage gap could add $3.5 trillion to the global economy between 2023 and 2030, with 90% of this economic boost benefitting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the report states.

The GSMA also outlines the challenges that underserved populations face. In some LMICs, mobile devices can cost as much as 18% of the average monthly wage and up to 51% for the lowest-income groups. In sub-Saharan Africa, where mobile phones can cost up to 99% of the poorest households’ monthly income, affordability remains a critical barrier. Limited digital skills and a lack of locally relevant content are further challenges, compounded by infrastructure gaps such as insufficient electricity access.

John Giusti, the GSMA’s chief regulatory officer, emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach, saying, “Despite progress in network expansion and mobile internet adoption, digital divides persist. Governments, international organizations, and the mobile industry must work together to address barriers, invest in local digital ecosystems, and ensure safety online.”


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