According to the GSMA’s annual State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2023, more than half of the world’s population—around 4.3 billion people—now own smartphones.
This rapid growth in smartphone ownership has driven widespread use of mobile internet services: nearly 4 billion of the 4.6 billion mobile internet users today access the web via smartphones.
However, the report also highlights persistent challenges, particularly the digital divide and gaps in actual usage. One clear finding is the sharp regional disparity in the capabilities of connected devices.
In mature markets such as North America and East Asia & Pacific, 69 percent of smartphone owners use 4G-capable devices. By contrast, many regions lag behind: in Sub-Saharan Africa, 69 percent of smartphones are limited to 3G, and in the Middle East and North Africa, 33 percent are 3G-only.
These differences underline the ongoing importance of 2G and 3G networks in low- and middle-income countries, where they remain essential for providing internet access to millions.
Despite the overall increase in mobile internet adoption, a large portion of the global population remains offline—about 3.4 billion people. Of those living within areas covered by mobile broadband, 38 percent still do not use it.
The proportion of people who are covered but not using mobile broadband is even higher in some regions: 59 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa and 52 percent in South Asia. These figures highlight the significant barriers to digital inclusion in those regions.
The report also reveals that 600 million people—roughly eight percent of the global population—access the internet using feature phones. This underscores the variety of devices that shape global internet usage patterns.
Beyond device type and network availability, non-technical barriers continue to limit internet use. Low digital skills, limited literacy, safety concerns, and a lack of locally relevant content prevent many, including some smartphone owners, from fully using internet services.
Although mobile internet adoption is still increasing, the pace of growth has slowed, calling attention to the urgent need for action.
Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA, warned that lack of connectivity will deny billions access to essential services and economic opportunities, disproportionately affecting poorer, less educated, rural, and female users.
He added that the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and increasing climate-related emergencies are further straining these vulnerable groups and stressed the need to accelerate efforts to broaden digital inclusion and prevent the digital divide from widening.
To close the gap, policymakers, industry and civil society should intensify efforts that address barriers to use, improve digital literacy, and ensure internet-enabled devices and services are affordable and accessible.
(Photo by Creative Christians on Unsplash)
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