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More than before, more people have access to the internet through mobile devices. At the end of 2023, the number of people who use mobile internet increased to 4.6 billion (57% of the total global population). This is according to the latest State of Mobile Internet report by <a href="https://www.gsma.com/r/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-State-of-Mobile-Internet-Connectivity-Report-2024.pdf?utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=button&amp;utm_campaign=somic24" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GSMA</a>. 
According to it, mobile now account for 84% of broadband connections in 2023. Yet, despite this, the growth in mobile internet adoption has remained flat. It indicates that about 160 million people started using mobile internet in 2023. This is similar to the growth in 2022 but represents a slowdown compared to 2015–2021 when more than 200 million people were connected each year. 
The numbers account for the number of unique users that have used internet services on a mobile device that they own or have primary use of at the end of the year. According to GSMA, the estimates are based on data sourced globally from mobile operators, regulators, national statistics agencies and consumer surveys. 
The report indicates that more than 90% of the growth in 2023 came from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 95% of the unconnected population lives. 
Yet, the benefits of connectivity are not being realised equally across the globe. Averagely, 39% of the global population is living within mobile broadband coverage but are not using it, while 4% are still not covered by mobile broadband. 
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The percentage of the global population living in areas without mobile broadband coverage stood at 4% by the end of 2023. This represents a marginal reduction from the previous years and means around 350 million people are still not covered by a mobile broadband network (compared to almost 400 million in recent years). The remaining uncovered communities, which are predominantly rural, poor and sparsely populated, are the most challenging to reach. 
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the lowest connectivity levels and largest coverage gap. Connectivity is highest in Southern and Western Africa with about 30% and lowest in Central Africa at 19%. Central Africa also has the largest coverage gap with 34%. Eastern Africa has the largest usage gap within the region, at 68%. 
East Asia &amp; Pacific has the third highest levels of connectivity after North America and Europe &amp; Central Asia, with 72% of the region’s population using mobile internet. Overall, more than half of adults aged 18+ were still unconnected in Sub-Saharan Africa, while more than a third were unconnected in South Asia and MENA. 
Read also: <a href="https://technext24.com/2024/10/23/global-smartphone-shipments-grow-q3-2024/">Apple gains as Global smartphone shipments grows by 4% in Q3 2024</a> 
<h5 id="4g-and-5g-smartphones-dominate-global-mobile-internet-use" class="wp-block-heading">4G and 5G smartphones dominate global mobile internet use</h5> 
At the end of 2023, almost 4.3 billion people were using their smartphones to access mobile internet, equivalent to 53% of the global population. 
Almost 80% of mobile internet subscribers globally now access the internet on a 4G or 5G smartphone. This represents a significant increase since 2019 (when the devices accounted for only 59% of mobile internet subscribers) and 2022 (75%). Between 2022 and 2023, an additional 330 million people became mobile internet users on 4G or 5G smartphones. 
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The long-term growth is particularly significant in South Asia, where feature phones and 3G smartphones accounted for 49% of devices used by mobile internet subscribers in 2019; by the end of 2023, this had fallen to 19%. 
However, globally, one in five mobile internet subscribers are still using 3G smartphones or a feature phone to access the internet. This reaches more than a third in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean, and MENA, and almost two-thirds in Sub-Saharan Africa. 
This large, albeit declining, user base is important to bear in mind as mobile operators consider shutting down 2G and 3G networks. 
<h5 id="key-barriers-to-mobile-internet-adoption" class="wp-block-heading">Key barriers to mobile internet adoption</h5> 
While no two people have the same experience adopting and using mobile technology, there are common milestones on the mobile internet user journey. The journey starts with mobile ownership and progresses to mobile internet awareness, mobile internet adoption and, finally, regular and diverse mobile internet use. 
A range of reasons explain why people are not adopting mobile internet despite living in areas covered by mobile broadband. 
Key factors include: 
<ul class="wp-block-list"> 
 <li>Lack of awareness and understanding of mobile internet and its benefits, and a lack of digital skills and literacy and skills.</li> 
 <li>Inability to afford an internet-enabled handset, data plans or other service fees.</li> 
 <li>Concerns about the negative aspects and risks of mobile and the internet, such as harassment, theft, fraud and information security.</li> 
 <li>Lack of relevant content, products and services that meet users’ needs and capabilities.</li> 
 <li>Lack of access to networks and enablers, such as internet-enabled handsets, agents and formal ID, or devices and services are not accessible or easy to use.</li> 
</ul> 
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 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1668" height="844" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Literacy-affordability-slow-growth-of-global-mobile-internet-users-as-population-reaches-4.6-billion-4.jpg" alt="Literacy, affordability slow growth of global mobile internet users as population reaches 4.6 billion" class="wp-image-239507">
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According to the report, millions more people in rural areas experience these barriers than those in urban areas. For instance, in Nigeria, only 4% of those living in urban areas are unaware of mobile internet, compared to 23% of those living in rural areas. 
There is also a substantial mobile internet gender gap, meaning millions more women than men experience these barriers. It indicates that even when women have the same education, income, literacy and employment levels as men, they are still less likely to use mobile internet owing to other issues at play, such as discrimination and social norms. 
For example, in India, 29% of men remain unaware of mobile internet, compared to 43% of women. 
The other major issue identified by the report is affordability. Across the Sub-Saharan African countries surveyed, handset affordability was reported as the top barrier while literacy and digital skills ranked the most in Asia. 
The report revealed that the median cost of entry-level, internet-enabled smartphones remained around $50, while median affordability is 18%. 
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Consequently, those who are digitally excluded are more likely to be poorer, less educated, rural and women – groups that stand to gain the most from connectivity. Without renewed efforts to close the digital divide, the underserved are at risk of being left behind in an increasingly digital world. 
The economic impact of digital inclusion is profound. This report shows that closing the usage gap is estimated to add just over $3.5 trillion in total additional GDP during 2023–2030 and an additional $900 billion in GDP in 2030 alone. 
Addressing the digital divide has never been more important.
The post <a href="https://technext24.com/2024/11/11/literacy-slow-growth-mobile-4-6-m-users/">Literacy, affordability slow growth of global mobile internet users as population reaches 4.6 billion</a> first appeared on <a href="https://technext24.com">Technext</a>.

Literacy, affordability slow growth of global mobile internet users as population reaches 4.6 billion

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