Mobile internet subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to reach 37% by the year 2020, says the GSM Association (GSMA).

According to the GSMA's Intelligence report the mobile internet penetration rate for sub-Saharan Africa was 17% in 2013 and is expected to more than double over the next six years.

The mobile industry body also expects that half of the world's population will be using mobile devices to access the internet by 2020.

Anne Bouverot, director general of the GSMA, says accelerating digital inclusion in the form of affordable mobile internet access is a key focus to getting more connected.

"Our new findings underline how mobile is now the gateway to the internet for billions of citizens across the world and will be responsible for connecting millions of currently 'offline' global citizens to the internet in the years to 2020 and beyond," she said.

At the end of 2013 there were almost 150 million people using mobile devices to access the internet in sub-Saharan Africa, the GSMA report has noted.

The report highlights that by 2020 an additional 240 million people across sub-Saharan Africa will gain mobile internet access.

"Mobile technology is already playing an invaluable role in the social, economic and environmental development of the developing world; the mobile internet has the potential to trigger a new wave of growth and innovation if we can remove the barriers to digital inclusion," Bouverot stated.

Africa Analysis managing director, Dobek Pater told ITWeb Africa that the GSMA's predictions are very possible and growth in mobile internet subscribers for the region could even be higher.

Pater explained that factors such as low cost devices, economic growth, job creation, distribution of income as well as education can drive mobile internet penetration in sub-Saharan Africa.

"The cost of devices and coverage by network operators could result in the drive of mobile internet subscribers," he said.

Pater added that subscribers sometimes prefer a brand name device to a low-end device and this could affect the drive to increase mobile internet adoption in the region.