Mobile Internet Gap Could Boost Economy by $3.5 Trillion

The Global System for Mobile Communications Association reported that closing the global mobile internet usage gap could generate an additional $3.5 trillion in economic output by 2030. The report, titled State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2026, revealed that by the end of 2025, 4.8 billion people were using mobile internet, while 3.1 billion lived within mobile broadband coverage but remained offline.

The report indicated that over 90% of the economic benefits from closing this gap would accrue to low- and middle-income countries, where affordability is a significant barrier to mobile internet adoption. The report identified handset affordability as the primary obstacle, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where entry-level internet-enabled handsets cost the poorest 20% of people 76% of their average monthly income.

Rising memory costs have exacerbated the affordability challenge, leading to a forecasted decline in global smartphone shipments. The report noted that while mobile internet adoption is expanding, the pace has slowed, with 160 million new users in 2025 compared to 190 million in 2024.