A new report from the GSMA highlights a significant paradox in Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital transformation. While the region is making substantial progress in expanding mobile broadband infrastructure, its population faces the world’s most severe barriers to getting online, leading to the lowest rates of mobile internet use globally.
- Globally, 3.1 billion people live in areas with network coverage but do not use mobile internet, revealing a significant ‘usage gap’ in digital inclusion.
- The primary barrier is the cost of an internet-enabled handset, which can constitute up to 87% of monthly income for the poorest in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- The report recommends affordable devices and addressing digital literacy to increase mobile internet adoption and bridge the digital divide.
- The GSMA report highlights the paradox of Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital transformation, where mobile broadband infrastructure expands but internet use remains the lowest globally.
The GSMA’s annual State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025 report shows that while 58% of the world’s population (4.7 billion people) are now mobile internet subscribers, a staggering 3.1 billion people live within the footprint of a mobile broadband network but remain offline. This “usage gap” is now the central crisis in digital inclusion, dwarfing the 300 million people (4% of the global population) who still live in areas without network coverage. Business Insider Africa recently highlighted the top African countries with the widest internet usage gaps
This divide carries a hefty economic price. Closing the usage gap could unlock an additional $3.5 trillion in GDP globally by 2030. For low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), bridging the gender gap in mobile internet use alone would add another $1.3 trillion to their economies.
The Crisis of Affordability
According to the report, the single greatest barrier preventing people from getting online is the prohibitive cost of an internet-enabled handset. Across LMICs, an entry-level phone costs an average of 16% of a person’s monthly income.
This crisis is most severe in Sub-Saharan Africa. For the poorest 20% of the population in the region, an entry-level device costs a staggering 87% of their monthly income. This single factor keeps the digital world far out of reach for millions. The report identifies a key tipping point: a device priced at $30 could make handsets affordable for up to 1.6 billion people globally.
Even when cost is overcome, other challenges remain. This is reflected in the technology people use: 60% of mobile internet subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa still use older 3G smartphones or feature phones, limiting their ability to have a rich, high-speed internet experience. A lack of literacy and digital skills stands as the next significant barrier to adoption for those who have never used the internet. Business Insider Africa has also explored how empowering women through mobile connectivity could bridge part of this digital divide.
The report provides several recommendations for helping more people use the mobile internet. The key suggestions include:
- Improve Affordability: The cost of both phones and data plans should be lower. This includes creating new ways for people to pay for devices, such as payment plans.
- Invest in Digital Skills: Initiatives should focus on teaching people the skills needed to use the internet safely and with confidence.
- Build a Safer Internet: It is important to create systems that protect users from online risks like scams and fraud. This helps build the trust needed for more people to go online.
- Foster Relevant Content: The report recommends supporting the creation of local websites, services, and apps in local languages that are useful for people’s daily lives.
