The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025: Affordability of Internet-Enabled Handsets and Data (GSMA)

Summary

• Across LMICs, the median cost of an entry-level internet-enabled handset increased from around $50 in 2023 to around $54 in 2024.p.9
• Median handset affordability was relatively unchanged at just under 16% of average monthly income.p.9
• Affordability improved in 37% of LMICs, did not change significantly in 36% and worsened in 27%.p.9
• Around 1.2 billion smartphones were sold in 2024, an increase of 4% on 2023.p.9
• In 2024, 48% of LMICs had an entry-level device available for less than 15% of average monthly income, and 57% had one for less than 20%.p.11
• A device at $30 could make handsets affordable to up to 1.6 billion people in the usage gap, while a $20 device could reach 2 billion.p.11
• Of the 3.1 billion people covered by mobile broadband but not using mobile internet, around two thirds (68%) do not own a mobile phone.p.7

Key insights

1. 58% of the global population use mobile internet on their own device, while 4% are not covered and 38% are covered but not using it.p.4
2. Rural respondents are 29% less likely to own an internet-enabled phone on average across surveyed countries.p.7
3. Feature phones and 3G smartphones account for as much as 60% of mobile internet users in Sub-Saharan Africa.p.7
4. Devices are likely to be affordable when they cost 15-20% of monthly GDP per capita.p.11
5. Device affordability was 17.9% for 2023 in last year's edition, and the revision to 16% is mainly explained by revised IMF GDP figures.p.10
6. More than 40% of LMICs in Europe and Central Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa saw device affordability significantly improve.p.9