PR98366

LONDON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- 95% of the world is now covered by mobile broadband networks, but 40% of the

population covered by these networks face other barriers that prevent them

getting online

Ensuring people are able to use mobile internet, rather than focusing purely on

network coverage, is the key to driving digital inclusion for 3.2 billion

people worldwide, according to statistics released by the GSMA today.

The organisation's annual State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report

[https://www.gsma.com/r/somic/] shows that 95% of the global population now

lives in areas served by mobile broadband connectivity, and that enabled by

that coverage footprint, 55% of the world's population is now connected to

mobile internet. Providing coverage to the remaining 5% (the "coverage gap")

remains an important challenge.

However, the bigger issue is the 3.2 billion people, equivalent to 40% of the

world's population, who are covered by a mobile broadband network but face

barriers that prevent them from getting online (the "usage gap"). These include:

- A lack of literacy and digital skills

- Affordability (particularly handset affordability)

- Access to relevant content and services

- Safety and security concerns and access

The impacts of these challenges have far-reaching consequences, especially in

low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where mobile is the primary – and in

many cases only – form of internet access.

94% of the world's "unconnected" population – who are more likely to be poor,

living in rural areas and women – live in LMICs. Lack of internet access holds

them back from playing an active role in an increasingly online world, making

them less able to cope with the continuing economic and social disruptions

caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, rising energy prices and the

cost-of-living crisis. These barriers also prevent them from being able to

access critical information and services such as healthcare, education,

e-commerce, financial services and income-generating opportunities.

GSMA Director General Mats Granryd said: "More than 55% of people globally are

now benefitting from the transformational power of mobile internet

connectivity. Mobile operators worldwide have now extended mobile coverage to

95% of the global population, and continue investing every day to increase that

footprint. We should celebrate that achievement, but we shouldn't let it blind

us to the even bigger challenge.

"It's time to make real strides on the journey to reach the 3.2 billion people

who are not yet using mobile internet despite living within the footprint of

mobile broadband networks. We call on governments and organisations worldwide

to work alongside the mobile industry and make digital inclusion a genuine

priority. Removing barriers to mobile internet adoption will boost economic

recovery, improve social mobility and gender equality, and transform the lives

of millions worldwide."

Important trends

Whilst the report highlighted the importance of increased focus on addressing

the "usage gap" it also revealed a number of important trends:

- Use of mobile internet is still growing, and driving digital inclusion. By

the end of 2021, 4.3 billion people were using mobile internet or 55% of the

world's population, up from 43% in 2017.

- Almost 300 million people came online in the past year. Most of the people

who started using mobile internet in 2021 came from LMICs where 94% of the

unconnected population live. As a result, for the first time half of the

population LMICs is now using mobile internet.

- Globally, the coverage gap reduced substantially over the last 7 years. The

percentage of people outside the reach of mobile broadband networks fell from

19% in 2015 to 5% at the end of 2021. However, there is no room for

complacency: 400 million people worldwide still do not live in an area covered

by a mobile broadband network, and progress has slowed since 2018.

While important progress has been achieved in increasing internet adoption and

usage, the report, which was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and

Development Office (FCDO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation

Agency (Sida) via the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation, demonstrates that

growth has been unequal and there is a growing digital divide between and

within countries. It concludes that strong collective effort is needed to close

the digital divide. This requires informed, targeted action by all

stakeholders, including mobile operators, policymakers, international partners

and the broader private sector to address the needs of the unconnected and the

barriers they face to accessing and using the internet.

Addressing the mobile internet usage gap will be a focus of this year's MWC

Africa event in Kigali, Rwanda, which starts next week. For more information on

MWC Africa, including how to attend, see: https://www.mwc-africa.com.

The GSMA's State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2022 is available at:

https://www.gsma.com/r/somic/.

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover,

develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments

and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so

that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and

organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA

delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good,

Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing

policy, tackling today's biggest societal challenges, underpinning the

technology and interoperability that make mobile 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 find out more at https://www.gsma.com.

About GSMA Connected Society

The Connected Society programme works with the mobile industry, technology

companies, the development community and governments to increase access to and

adoption of mobile internet, focusing on underserved population groups 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 organisation.

For more information, please visit

https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/connected-society/.

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Source: GSMA