Connectivity Gaps in Latin America
Download the Report
Complete the form below to get instant access to this report. For easier access in the future, you can register for a free account here.
Please sign in or register for a free public account to access this report.
A Roadmap for Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador
Recent years have seen an internet connectivity revolution in Latin America. Between 2014 and 2021, the number of people in the region with mobile internet access nearly doubled, from 220 million to almost 400 million. Despite this spectacular growth, 230 million people remain without access to mobile internet. And in contrast to the fast pace of change seen over the last few years, further progress will be increasingly complex.
Lack of demand (the ‘usage gap’) is the main driver of the mobile internet connectivity gap across Latin America. Some 190 million people across the region (of the 230 million unconnected), in both urban and rural areas, live in locations with mobile internet network coverage but do not access the internet. Despite a continued decline in service prices, this usage gap remains due to a lack of affordability.
This report examines the limitations of the current design of universal service funds (USFs) and proposes reforms and alternative options to expand 4G connectivity levels by 2030.
Related research
The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025: Understanding Mobile Internet Use in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
This fourth report in the series goes beyond mobile internet adoption to examine how people actually use mobile internet. It looks at frequency of use, the range of online activities they engage in, and the differences in use across countries and demographics.
The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025: Network Coverage and Infrastructure
This third report in the series examines how network coverage and infrastructure are expanding, and investigates network quality. These factors affect people’s ability to access the internet and their experience when doing so.
The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025: Trends in Mobile Internet Connectivity
This second report in the series explores how mobile internet adoption has evolved since 2015. It examines three areas: the share of the population using mobile internet, the proportion still living outside mobile broadband coverage (the coverage gap), and those who live within mobile broadband coverage but are not yet online (the usage gap).
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025: Understanding Mobile Internet Use in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
This fourth report in the series goes beyond mobile internet adoption to examine how people actually use mobile internet. It looks at frequency of use, the range of online activities they engage in, and the differences in use across countries and demographics.
The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025: Network Coverage and Infrastructure
This third report in the series examines how network coverage and infrastructure are expanding, and investigates network quality. These factors affect people’s ability to access the internet and their experience when doing so.
The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025: Trends in Mobile Internet Connectivity
This second report in the series explores how mobile internet adoption has evolved since 2015. It examines three areas: the share of the population using mobile internet, the proportion still living outside mobile broadband coverage (the coverage gap), and those who live within mobile broadband coverage but are not yet online (the usage gap).
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics