The GSMA has released a new report revealing that 95 percent of the world lives in areas with mobile network coverage, yet 40 percent of people are still offline. This large difference has “far-reaching consequences”, it said, especially in low- and middle-income countries where mobile connectivity is more important than broadband.
In its report, the GSMA highlighted 4 main reasons why so many people are still offline:
- Lack of literacy and digital skills
- Affordability (especially mobile phone affordability)
- Access to related content and services
- Safety and security concerns and access
According to the report, 94 percent of those who have not yet accessed the Internet are from low- and middle-income countries, rural areas and women. In the report, it was stated that these people who do not have access to the Internet are denied access to information and services related to health, education, e-commerce, financial services and income-generating opportunities. This also causes them to be less responsive to events such as epidemics, climate change and rising cost of living.
“The time has come to take real steps towards reaching the 3.2 billion people who live within the reach of mobile broadband networks but do not yet use mobile internet. Governments and organizations around the world are working with the mobile industry and making digital inclusion a real priority,” said Mats Granryd, Director General of GSMA. “Removing barriers to mobile internet adoption will accelerate economic recovery, improve social mobility and gender equality, and transform the lives of millions of people around the world.”
While the situation looks bad, the report highlights some areas where progress has been made. Mobile internet usage continues to rise, which is driving digital engagement. Nearly 300 million more people were online in 2021, and the coverage gap has decreased significantly over the past 7 years, from 19 percent reported in 2015 to 5 percent in 2021.
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