Despite 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 connected people, 225 million more compared to 2019, and up from a third of people globally just six years ago.

This is according to the latest GSMA global State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2021, introduced at this year's MWC Africa.

Even with this impressive growth in mobile internet connectivity, both in terms of mobile internet coverage and usage, the report highlights that work must accelerate to bridge the digital divide. Of the 3.8 billion people who remain unconnected, only 450 million people do not live in areas with mobile broadband coverage, (“the coverage gap”).

The coverage gap represents a significant improvement year-on-year, according to the GSMA.

The far bigger challenge is the 3.4 billion people who live in areas that are already covered by mobile broadband, but are not using it, (“the usage gap”).

According to the GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2021 focused on the Sub-Saharan Africa region significant gains have been made in both 3G and 4G coverage since 2014, yet in 2020 only half the population had access to a 4G network.

Additionally, while smartphone adoption is increasing, smartphones 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 stood at 26.5%.

GSMA’s Chief Regulatory Officer, John Giusti, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic made clear the importance of mobile internet access to people’s lives and livelihoods and has accelerated the digital transformation around the world. Mobile is the primary and often the only way to access the internet in low- and middle-income countries. While more people than ever are now using the mobile internet, some fundamental barriers stop far too many people from using mobile internet. To close this usage gap, all of us - government and industry - need to do more. In particular, we must address the key barriers to usage of mobile internet services, most notably literacy and digital skills, as well as affordability. Only through targeted and collaborative action can we bridge the digital divide.”

Coverage and usage gap narrowing

During the last six years, the coverage gap has continued to narrow:

• In 2014, almost a quarter of the world’s population did not have access to a mobile broadband network.
• By the end of 2020, that figure was only 6%.Now, 94% of the world’s population has access to a broadband network, with most progress between 2014 and 2018.
• In 2020, global coverage increased by one percentage point, from 93% to 94%. This 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 mobile internet has also increased for the second year in a row:

• However, the usage gap remains large and accounts for the majority of the unconnected.
• In 2020, 3.4 billion people (43% of the world’s population) lived within the footprint of a mobile broadband network but were not accessing mobile internet services.
• Although the usage gap is narrowing, it is now seven times larger than the coverage gap.
• In 2014, the usage gap accounted for 64% of the total unconnected population – this figure grew to 88% by 2020 due to the increase in mobile broadband coverage.
• Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) now account for almost 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 by 4%.

Barriers to mobile internet usage

The GSMA said the pandemic has highlighted the importance of mobile internet connectivity to the social and economic well-being of people around the world. People with mobile internet access were able to stay connected with friends and family, conduct business, gain access to critical information and services, and otherwise ease the monotony of lockdown life.

Yet 47% of the population in LMICs are still not using the mobile internet despite living within mobile broadband network coverage.

Key barriers include:

• Lack of awareness of mobile internet and its benefits, literacy, and digital skills make up the largest barrier to adoption. Nearly a quarter of adults across the report’s surveyed countries are not aware of mobile internet and its benefits.
• Affordability: internet-enabled handsets and data became less affordable in many LMICs 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 and women.

A collaborative approach

The global climate challenge shows that mobile connectivity can be a lifeline for people during crises, re-emphasising the importance of doing more to improve access to mobile services.The only way to close the digital divide is through a strong collective effort to address people’s barriers to accessing and using mobile internet.

“It requires targeted action by all stakeholders including mobile operators, policymakers, government and the broader private sector,” the GSMA stated.