Around 3.1 billion people are not connected to the internet despite living in coverage areas, highlighting a massive global usage gap.
In contrast, there are now 4.7 billion people using mobile internet, around 58% of the global population, as 200 million more people were connected in 2024. But that leaves 38% unconnected due to barriers – with the main hurdle being device affordability.
According to a report from the GSMA, mobile is the primary way that people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) access the internet, accounting for 84% of global internet connections.
An additional 40 million people were covered by mobile internet infrastructure last year, the majority (75%) in sub-Saharan Africa. However, this still leaves around 300 million people (4% of the global population) living in areas with no coverage.
In total, there are 3.4 billion people unconnected to mobile services in 2024, combining those who live in locations with no coverage and those who do but remain unable to connect due to affordability and skills barriers.
The GSMA claims in its report that closing this gap would deliver an additional US$3.5 trillion in global GDP by 2030.
The majority (93%) of unconnected people live in developing countries. Adults living in remote locations in emerging markets are 35% less likely to use mobile internet services than those in urban areas. Women in emerging markets are 14% less likely than men to be online.
Barriers to mobile adoption include affordability (particularly handsets), digital skills, and literacy.
In LMICs, the price of affordable entry-level handsets has stagnated since 2021, representing 16% of average income and rising to 48% for the poorest 20%.
“Although ‘the digital divide’ and ‘connect the unconnected’ have been on the agenda for well over a decade, the time has come to drive more meaningful progress,” said GSMA Director General, Vivek Badrinath.
“A device at $30 could make handsets affordable to up to 1.6 billion people who are currently priced out of connecting to available mobile internet coverage.
“To produce this will require a concerted, collaborative effort between the mobile industry, device manufacturers, policymakers, financial institutions and more, but it is a responsibility we all must shoulder.”
