The GSMA report states the total number of people using phones in the world.
Smartphones have become an essential tool for millions of people around the world, but do you know exactly how many? This was revealed in a report published by GSMA, the body representing global mobile operators More than half of the world’s population owns a smartphone And the digital divide continues to be a problem.
This means that more than 4.3 billion people use these devices, a figure that has increased by 9% since last year. The report also shows that the number of mobile connections has exceeded 10 billion, which means that each person has more than one mobile device on average.
More than half of the population has a smartphone: 4.3 billion people
he Report It also indicates that the number of mobile connections has exceeded 10 billion, which implies that each person has more than one mobile device on an average. However, there are major differences between regions Smartphone penetration is highest in Europe and North Americawith 76% and 74% respectively, while sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have the lowest rates, at 26% and 29% respectively.
however, Growth in mobile internet adoption has slowed over the past year, and significant digital gaps remain. Despite the benefits of connectivity, 38% of the world’s population lives within mobile broadband coverage but does not use it. Furthermore, 5% are still not covered by mobile broadband – the coverage gap. These gaps particularly affect low- and middle-income countries, where the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the impact of digital exclusion.
GSMA report provides key analysis Factors Affecting Mobile Internet AdoptionUsing the Mobile Connectivity Index, a tool that measures the performance of 170 countries, representing 99% of the world’s population, against the key enablers of mobile Internet adoption: infrastructure, capacity, consumer readiness, content and services.
Among these factors, the report highlights that the types of devices used to connect to the Internet vary significantly by region. For example, In sub-Saharan Africa, 63% of mobile internet users are connected to a basic phone Or with limited functions, in Europe and Central Asia, 93% do so with smartphones. The type of device affects the quality and quantity of Internet use, as well as the scope and benefits that can be obtained.
Another relevant factor is the content and services available on the Internet, which must be relevant, useful and interesting to potential users. The report said Language is a major barrier to accessing content, since only 5% of web content is available in the world’s 10 most spoken languages. In addition, there is a lack of local content adapted to different market needs and cultural preferences.
