Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than half of the world's population is now using the mobile internet. Mobile Internet usage translates to just over four billion people connected, 225 million more compared to 2019, and a third of people globally in just six years.
This data is according to the latest global report of the GSMA on the state of mobile internet connectivity 2021 , presented in MWC Africa this year. Even with this impressive growth in mobile Internet connectivity, both in terms of mobile Internet coverage and usage, the report still highlights that work must be accelerated to close the digital divide.
Of the 3,8 billion people who remain disconnected, only 450 million people do not live in areas with mobile broadband coverage. The coverage gap represents a significant improvement year over year, according to the GSMA. The much bigger challenge is the 3,4 billion people who live in areas that are already covered by mobile broadband but remain disconnected.
According to the GSMA's State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2021, focused on the Sub-Saharan Africa region, significant gains have been made in 3G and 4G coverage since 2014, but by 2020 only half of the population had access to a 4G network.
Furthermore, although smartphone adoption is increasing, they still account for less than half of total connections. In 2020, the cost of the cheapest internet-enabled devices as a percentage of monthly GDP per capita was 26,5%.
GSMA Regulatory Director John Giusti said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the importance of mobile Internet access to people's lives and livelihoods and has accelerated the digital transformation around the world. Mobile phones are the main and often the only way to access the Internet in low- and middle-income countries. Although more people than ever are using the mobile internet, some fundamental barriers prevent many people from using the mobile internet. To close this usage gap, all of us – government and industry – need to do more. In particular, we must address the main barriers to using mobile internet services, particularly literacy and digital skills, as well as accessibility. Only through targeted and collaborative actions can we reduce the digital divide. ”
Over the past six years, the coverage gap has continued to narrow:
- In 2014, nearly a quarter of the world's population did not have access to a mobile broadband network.
- At the end of 2020, that number was only 6%. 94% of the world's population now has access to a broadband network, with the greatest progress between 2014 and 2018.
- In 2020, global coverage increased by one percentage point, from 93% to 94%. This has reduced the number of people living in areas without a mobile broadband network to 450 million. Those who remain uncovered typically live in sparsely populated rural areas with difficult terrain.
The number of people using the mobile Internet also increased for the second year in a row:
- However, the usage gap remains large and accounts for the majority of disconnects.
- In 2020, 3,4 billion people (43% of the world's population) lived under the coverage of a mobile broadband network, but were not accessing mobile Internet services.
- Although the usage gap is closing, it is now seven times larger than the coverage gap.
- In 2014, the usage gap represented 64% of the total unconnected population – that number has grown to 88% by 2020 due to increased mobile broadband coverage.
- Low- and middle-income countries now account for nearly 93% of the world's unconnected population and more than 98% of the uncovered population.
- Between 2019 and 2020, the most significant increase in mobile internet usage is in East Asia (61%), which grew 4%.
The main barriers include:
- Lack of knowledge of the mobile internet and its benefits, literacy and digital skills constitute the biggest barrier to adoption. Almost a quarter of adults in the countries surveyed by the report are not aware of mobile internet and its benefits.
- Accessibility: Internet-enabled phones and data became less accessible in many low-income countries in 2020 due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These barriers often disproportionately affect specific segments of the population, especially people living in rural areas.
