An age-old question for mobile internet connectivity: how should adoption be measured?

Asia Pacific is entering a new phase of digital development. As digital platforms become integral to economic activity, public services, finance, communications and emerging technologies such as AI, trust becomes a critical enabler of digital transformation. This report examines the trust imperative across Asia Pacific, examines the results of the Digital Nations Index in the context of trust, outlines the role of mobile operators as guardians of digital trust, and presents priorities for strengthening the foundations of digital trust for governments, regulators, operators and international cooperation institutions.

Developing Asia Pacific is home to 4.3 billion people – more than half the world’s population. However, 1.2 billion people are not online. Achieving universal connectivity by 2030 will require additional investment of around $184 billion. The economic case for closing this gap is significant. Closing the 4G connectivity gap by 2030 is estimated to deliver a GDP uplift of around $230 billion across Developing Asia Pacific. Universal connectivity would also have several wider socioeconomic benefits such as poverty reduction, improved education and health access, humanitarian assistance and lower carbon emissions. This report presents the findings from a study by GSMA Intelligence on closing the mobile connectivity gap in Developing Asia Pacific, commissioned by the Asian Development Bank.

By the end of 2025, the number of people using mobile internet increased to 4.8 billion people (59% of the global population). However, around 3.4 billion people still do not use mobile internet, and significant digital divides persist. As advancements in technologies such as AI accelerate the pace of digitalisation, it is more critical than ever to ensure no one is left behind. The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2026 provides the mobile industry and other stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of the trends in global connectivity, as well as insights on key barriers to mobile internet adoption and to further use of mobile internet among existing users.