The GSMA is a non-profit industry organization that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide. It has released its latest report for 2023. Sounds a bit stuffy and boring but there are actually some interesting takeaways here.
Key Trends Unveiled
The report reveals that smartphone ownership is on the rise, with 55% of the global population now owning a smartphone, up from 52% in 2022. Falling device prices and increased mobile internet availability are driving this growth.
Mobile internet usage is also growing, with 4.6 billion mobile internet users worldwide, up from 4.3 billion in 2022. This constitutes 57% of the global population. However, a digital divide persists across regions.
The report indicates that 4G is the dominant mobile internet technology. Notably, 69% of smartphone owners in North America, East Asia, and the Pacific use 4G-enabled devices. In contrast, 3G remains the prevailing technology in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa.
Despite the surge in mobile internet usage, approximately 3.4 billion people remain unconnected. Affordability issues, lack of infrastructure, and limited digital skills contribute to this gap.
The report underscores various barriers that hinder the expansion of mobile internet users, including:
The cost of mobile devices and data services remains a substantial barrier, especially in developing countries.
Mobile internet infrastructure is not universally accessible, particularly in rural and developing areas.
A lack of essential digital skills impedes the effective use of mobile internet devices and services.
Concerns about privacy, security, and online abuse deter some individuals from embracing mobile internet services.
Many parts of the world lack relevant content in local languages and cultures.
These barriers disproportionately affect poorer, less educated, rural, and female users, emphasizing the urgent need to address these challenges and achieve universal connectivity.
A notable revelation from the report is that approximately 600 million people, roughly 8% of the global population, still rely on feature phones for internet access.
(A feature phone is a type or class of mobile phone that retains the form factor of earlier generations of mobile telephones, typically with press-button-based inputs and a small non-touch display.)
Interesting stuff...
Keep calm and carry on
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