Sub-Saharan Africa is caught in a troubling digital paradox. According to the GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2025, two-thirds of the region’s population remains offline, even though most people already live within areas covered by mobile internet networks.
Globally, 96 percent of the world now has mobile internet coverage, yet 3.1 billion people – 38 percent of humanity – are not connected. The largest share of this “usage gap” is in low- and middle-income countries, with sub-Saharan Africa standing out as the hardest hit. While the region accounted for most of the 40 million people newly covered in 2024, only a quarter of its citizens actually use mobile internet services, highlighting the gulf between infrastructure and real-world adoption.
One of the biggest hurdles is affordability. The GSMA notes that entry-level smartphones cost 16 percent of average monthly income in poorer nations, and nearly half of the monthly earnings of the poorest households. A $30 device could change the game for 1.6 billion people currently priced out, leading industry leaders to push for collaborative manufacturing of ultra-low-cost phones.
The gap is also deeply social. Women in sub-Saharan Africa are 29 percent less likely than men to use mobile internet, while rural dwellers are 48 percent less connected than city residents. Barriers like digital illiteracy, lack of local content, patchy electricity, and online safety concerns further limit uptake. Even those connected often restrict their use to social media or news, missing out on banking, education, and e-commerce opportunities.
The economic stakes are high. GSMA estimates that bridging the usage gap could add $3.5 trillion to global GDP by 2030. Mobile technologies already fuel 5.8 percent of global GDP ($6.5 trillion) and could reach $11 trillion within five years. Yet operators are shifting focus to 5G, slowing 4G rollout in regions where it is most needed.
The report, supported by the Gates Foundation and international development agencies, stresses that infrastructure alone won’t solve Africa’s digital divide. It calls for urgent collaboration between governments, operators, device makers, and global partners to ensure Africa’s young and fast-growing population is not left behind in the digital age.
