GSMA, the global organization of mobile network operators, said that by the end of 2023, approximately 120 million Nigerians do not have access to mobile internet, creating a huge usage gap for the country.

The organization disclosed this in its recently released ‘State of Mobile Connectivity Report 2024’. He defined the usage gap as the population living within the area covered by the mobile broadband network but not using mobile internet.

About 3.45 billion people worldwide still did not have access to mobile internet at the end of last year, representing 43 percent of the world’s population, the GSMA said.

“The least connected region globally is Sub-Saharan Africa, where only 27% of the population uses mobile internet services, leaving a 13% coverage gap and a 60% usage gap,” GSMA said.

Access barriers

Affordability of devices and digital skills and literacy for the unconnected in Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which includes Nigeria, are the main barriers to mobile internet adoption, the report said.

“In these countries, entry-level internet-enabled devices cost 18% of the average monthly income; this rate rises to 51% in the poorest 20% of the world.

“In Sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for a quarter of the global unconnected population, this rises to 99 percent of the average monthly income of the region’s poorest 20 percent,” the report said.D.

• It also found that lack of digital skills and literacy was the second biggest barrier overall, but the most significant problem in the Asian countries examined as part of the new report.

• Other barriers to people using mobile internet include a lack of relevant, localized content and services, safety and security concerns, and limited access to additional critical infrastructure and services such as electricity.

Enable meaningful connection

The report noted that the majority of people who use mobile internet do so on a daily basis, but this is typically only for a relatively small portion of the most popular use cases, with an average of 43% of mobile internet users in surveyed countries reporting that they want to use mobile internet. use more.

“The most commonly reported barriers to increased usage among those already using mobile internet include safety and security concerns, affordability (particularly in terms of data but also mobile phones), and connectivity experience,” the GSMA report stated.

• The report stated that while the vast majority of people around the world now access the internet via a 4G or 5G smartphone, one in five mobile internet subscribers still uses a 3G smartphone or feature phone.

• This ratio reaches more than one-third in Latin America, the Caribbean and MENA and almost two-thirds in Sub-Saharan Africa, limiting the scope and depth of online and digital experience among users.

close the gap

Commenting on the survey’s findings, GSMA Regulatory Director John Giusti said that while progress continues to be made in improving infrastructure and increasing mobile internet adoption, significant digital divides also exist.

“Additionally, although most users access mobile internet on a daily basis, their activities are often limited to just one or two activities, although many express a desire to do more.

“This highlights persistent barriers – lack of affordability, skills and literacy, safety and security concerns, and lack of relevant content and services – that prevent users from getting online and using mobile internet to meet their life needs once online.

“Governments, mobile operators and international organizations must collaborate to eliminate barriers such as affordability, digital skills, awareness of mobile internet and the benefits it can provide.

“This effort should also focus on local, digital investments.LONG ecosystems and ensuring robust online security frameworks,” he said.

What you need to know

According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), mobile internet subscriptions in Nigeria stood at 163.3 million as of December 2023.

In the same period, the number of actively connected mobile lines was 224 million. This shows that approximately 61 million of the connected lines are not used to access the internet.

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