95% of the world is already covered by mobile broadband networks, but 40% of the population covered by these networks face other barriers that prevent them from connecting.
LONDON, Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Ensuring people can use the mobile internet, rather than just focusing on network coverage, is the key to driving digital inclusion for 3.2 billion people around the world , according to statistics released today by the GSMA.
The organization’s annual report Enlace shows that 95% of the world’s population already lives in areas served by mobile broadband connectivity and that, thanks to this coverage footprint, 55% of the world’s population is already connected to mobile Internet . Providing coverage to the remaining 5% (the “coverage gap”) remains a significant challenge.
However, the biggest problem is the 3.2 billion people, equivalent to 40% of the world’s population, who are covered by a mobile broadband network but face obstacles that prevent them from connecting to the Internet (the “usage gap”). ). Among them are:
The repercussions of these challenges have far-reaching consequences, especially in low- and middle-income countries (MICs), where mobile is the main – and in many cases the only – form of Internet access.
94% of the world’s “disconnected” population – who are more likely to be poor, live in rural areas and be female – live in LMICs. Lack of internet access prevents them from playing an active role in an increasingly online world, making them less able to cope with the continuing economic and social disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, rising energy prices and the cost of living crisis. These barriers also prevent them from accessing critical information and services such as healthcare, education, e-commerce, financial services and income-generating opportunities.
GSMA Director General Mats Granryd said: “Over 55% of people around the world already benefit from the transformative power of mobile internet connectivity. Mobile operators around the world have expanded mobile coverage to 95 % of the world’s population, and they continue to invest every day to increase that footprint. We should celebrate this achievement, but we shouldn’t let it blind us from seeing the even bigger challenge.
“The time has come to take real steps on the road to reaching the 3.2 billion people who still do not use the mobile Internet despite living within the footprint of mobile broadband networks. We call on governments and organizations around the world to engage with the mobile industry and make digital inclusion a real priority Removing barriers to mobile Internet adoption will drive economic recovery, improve social mobility and gender equality, and will transform the lives of millions of people around the world.”
important trends
While the report highlights the importance of focusing more on addressing the “usage gap,” it also reveals a number of important trends:
Although significant progress has been made in increasing the adoption and use of the Internet, the report, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency Development (Sida) through the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation, demonstrates that growth has been uneven and that there is a growing digital divide between and within countries. It concludes that a strong collective effort is necessary to close the digital divide. This requires all stakeholders, including mobile operators, policy makers, international partners and the private sector at large, to act in an informed and selective manner to meet the needs of the unconnected and the obstacles they face in accessing and using the Internet.
Addressing the gap in mobile internet usage will be one of the central themes of this year’s MWC Africa event in Kigali, Rwanda, which kicks off next week. For more information on MWC Africa, including how to attend, see: https://www.mwc-africa.com/.
The GSMA 2022 link is available at: https://www.gsma.com/r/somic/.
About GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization that unifies the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver fundamental innovation for positive business environments and social change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity for people, industry and society to thrive. The GSMA, which represents mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, offers its members three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Services and Solutions for Industry, and Reach. This activity includes advancing policy, addressing today’s biggest societal challenges, supporting the technology and interoperability that make mobile devices work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
We invite you to discover more at gsma.com.
About the GSMA Connected Society
The Connected Society program works with the mobile industry, technology companies, the development community and governments to increase access and adoption of the mobile Internet, focusing on underserved populations in developing markets.
This report is the output of a GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation project funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The views expressed are not necessarily those of either organization.
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