Mobile continues to accelerate digital inclusion

We are living in extraordinary times. Many of us have been impacted by unprecedented restrictions to everyday life, following measures to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19. The pandemic has increased our collective reliance on the internet and in many cases accelerated the use of digital technologies. As an industry, we recognize the critical role we play at this time in ensuring and maintaining connectivity for citizens around the world. It is in this context that it is important to consider both the progress that has been achieved and challenges that remain to digital inclusion for all as highlighted in the GSMA 2020 report on the State of Mobile Internet Connectivity. https://www.gsma.com/r/somic/?ID=a6g1r000000zw6nAAA&JobID=543327&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CS_SOMIC_Launch_2020_09_22&utm_content=https%3a%2f%2fwww.gsma.com%2fr%2fsomic%2f

In the face of lockdowns, billions of individuals have turned to the internet to connect to friends and family, access education or health information, and safeguard a limited level of economic activity. Mobile is no longer just a convenient accessory. It has become indispensable to our daily lives, especially in low- and middle-income countries where mobile accounts for 87 per cent of all internet connections.

Mobile operators all over the world have been pro-active, supporting our customers as well as governments with vital services and robust networks. Despite surging data traffic, for example, our industry has delivered a 7% improvement in download speeds during the pandemic, highlighting the investments that we have made to ensure networks have sufficient capacity and are resilient.

As this report highlights, mobile continues to accelerate digital inclusion and drive increased connectivity with 3.8 billion people now using mobile internet. There has been continued expansion of mobile broadband networks and the coverage gap fell from 10 per cent to 7 per cent of the population - or just under 600 million people.

However, despite the significant advances in mobile broadband deployment and adoption, billions of people face considerable barriers to going online. There are still 3.4 billion people who live in an area covered by a mobile broadband network but who are not using the mobile internet – the usage gap. In fact, the usage gap is now 6 times larger than the coverage gap.

This lack of internet use not only excludes individuals from opportunities to overcome the social and economic impact of the current crisis, but also limits the ability of governments to effectively manage the pandemic and its economic fallout.

This report shows that the usage gap is a global challenge, but that significant regional disparities persist. If we don’t take action now, we run the risk of reinforcing existing inequalities in the digital world and further marginalising vulnerable people.

As an industry, we are working hard to overcome the barriers to mobile internet adoption, by improving access to affordable devices and data plans, building digital skills, investing in local digital ecosystems to make services more relevant, and by ensuring that the internet is safe and secure to use.

This crisis reminds us that mobile is more essential than ever. Connectivity opens a window to the world, over and above the limits of the pandemic. Let’s ensure that together we continue to drive digital inclusion for all and deliver on the promise of a web that benefits humanity.

Stéphane Richard, Chairman and CEO of ORANGE and Chairman of the Board GSMA