The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2019
This insight is locked

This insight is open to all subscribers and registered users, or available by completing the form below.

Report details

The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2019
Pages
60
Released
JULY 2019

In 2018, almost 300 million people connected to mobile internet for the first time, bringing the total connected population to more than 3.5 billion people globally. For many of these individuals, mobile is the only method of accessing the internet, so growth in mobile internet adoption also drives digital inclusion, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Mobile internet connectivity is not, however, equitable; just over 40% of the LMIC population are connected, compared to almost 75% of the population in high-income countries. More than half the world’s population are therefore still unable to realise the social and economic benefits that mobile internet can enable.

This report accompanies the fourth annual update of the GSMA Mobile Connectivity Index – a tool that measures the performance of 165 countries (representing 99% of the global population) against the key enablers of mobile internet adoption: infrastructure; affordability; consumer readiness; and content and services. Key findings from the Index are analysed in this report alongside other relevant data sources, including the GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey 2018.

Download the Report

Complete the form below to get instant access to this content. For easier access in the future, you can register for a free account here.

By submitting this form, you agree that your email address and related activity on the platform will be processed for the purpose of generating and providing the requested report. Your data will be shared with GSMA Intelligence for this purpose. For more information, please see the GSMA Intelligence Privacy Policy.

Opt-in for Marketing Communications:
To ensure you stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the mobile industry, GSMA Intelligence would like to send you information about events, products, services, and initiatives, as well as industry news. Please subscribe by ticking this box; once subscribed, you can tailor what you receive from us at any time, or unsubscribe, should you wish.

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 subscription

Contact our research team

Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.

Contact our research team

Media

To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.

Learn more

Related research

Network API demand index: a vertical-sector view

Topics
Digital industries
Mobile networks and connectivity

Monetisation is the key objective in 2026 for telcos on APIs (as with other business lines) and their distribution partners, with the implications for go-to-market strategies being different depending on the API and buyer. It is important to quantify the commercial potential and buying likelihood of APIs across different sectors of the economy to accurately orient supply. To that end, GSMA Intelligence has developed the Open Gateway Demand Index, which aggregates a range of metrics to help understand where demand lies and the commercial opportunity for network APIs in each sector.

This insight is locked

The winner, the biggest mover and the surprise: what operators focused on at MWC 2026

Standard
Topic
Mobile networks and connectivity

GSMA Intelligence's Chart of the Month is a visual way of telling an important story in the mobile and broader tech ecosystem. From the shape and size of markets to trends in consumer behaviour, we aim to provide food for thought through informative visuals designed to bring colour and clarity to complex issues facing the industry. This edition looks at which topics telecoms operators focused on at MWC Barcelona 2026.

This insight is locked

Operators at MWC Barcelona 2026: strategies, innovation and messages shaping the industry

Standard
Topic
Mobile networks and connectivity

This report examines operators’ engagement at MWC Barcelona 2026, highlighting their announcements, innovations, strategy updates and messaging, in addition to examining implications for telecoms ecosystem players. We show our findings for 17 major operators across 12 areas of focus, including AI, 5G, B2B, B2C, cloud/edge and emerging tech such as APIs and non-terrestrial networks.

This insight is locked
Full access
Get full access to our research now, get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis
  • 200 reports a year
  • 50 million data points
  • Over 350 metrics