In an increasingly digital and connected world, access to the Internet remains a major challenge for many regions of the world. Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, remains the least connected region in the world, with only 27% of its population using Internet services. This alarming finding highlights a coverage gap of 13% and a usage deficit of 60%, according to the recent GSMA report entitled “State Of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2024”.
The figures speak for themselves: of the 7.1 billion people on the planet, 43% are still not connected to the mobile Internet, or 3.45 billion individuals. This finding underlines the scale of the challenge the world faces in terms of digital inclusion and equitable access to information technologies.
Yet, the mobile Internet has immense potential to foster economic growth and social development. The report highlights that the full exploitation of this resource remains hampered by major obstacles. For example, 350 million people live in areas where mobile internet networks do not exist, which is a real obstacle to their development.
In addition, the report reveals that 3.1 billion people live in areas covered by mobile internet but do not use it, which represents a huge “usage gap”. Closing these gaps is essential to enable these populations to benefit from the opportunities offered by digital connectivity.
Investing in mobile internet infrastructure is an urgent need, highlighted by the report which estimates that $418 billion will be needed to achieve universal access to the internet. These investments will not only benefit developed economies, but also low- and middle-income countries, which could see their GDP increase by $3.5 trillion between 2023 and 2030.
Furthermore, it is crucial to make entry-level devices more accessible to the most disadvantaged populations. Indeed, in less developed countries, the cost of smartphones represents a significant share of the average monthly income, sometimes reaching up to 99% of the income for the poorest 20% in the sub-Saharan region.
In conclusion, access to mobile Internet is a crucial issue for the economic and social development of populations around the world. It is imperative to overcome the obstacles that limit the connectivity of the most vulnerable populations and to invest massively in the infrastructure needed to guarantee equitable access for all. Only concerted action at the global level will make it possible to meet this challenge and build an inclusive digital future for all.