The persistent
affordability crisis and lack of digital skills continue to prevent millions of
women in low- and middle-income countries from accessing mobile internet,
according to the GSMA's 2025 Mobile Gender Gap Report. While 63% of women in
these regions now use mobile internet - a record high - the gender gap remains
stuck at 14%, leaving 885 million women offline.
The report
reveals smartphone ownership remains out of reach for 945 million women, with
entry-level devices consuming nearly a quarter of their monthly income compared
to just 12% for men. This cost barrier compounds with low digital literacy
levels to create a perfect storm of exclusion.
"Even when
women overcome the hurdle of device ownership, many lack the confidence to
fully utilize mobile internet," the report
states. Women who do get online use fewer services and connect less frequently
than men, citing poor connectivity experiences and safety concerns alongside
ongoing cost challenges.
The findings
highlight a worrying stagnation in progress since 2020, when initial gains in
closing the gender gap plateaued. South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa face
particularly acute challenges, with gender gaps of 32% and 29% respectively.
Claire
Sibthorpe, Head of Digital Inclusion at the GSMA comments: “It’s
disheartening that progress in reducing the mobile internet gender gap has
stalled. The data highlights the urgent need for increased focus and investment
by all stakeholders working together to close the digital gender divide. The
mobile internet gender gap is not going to close on its own. It is driven by
deep-rooted social, economic, and cultural factors that disproportionately
impact women. Our Connected Women Commitment Initiative shows that by taking
concrete actions to address women’s needs and the barriers they face, it is
possible to drive change. Since this initiative was launched in 2016, our
operator partners have collectively reached over 80 million additional women
with mobile internet or mobile money services.”
GSMA's
Connected Women Initiative demonstrates solutions exist - having helped 80
million women access mobile services since 2016 through targeted affordability
programs and digital skills training. However, the report calls for massive
scaling of such interventions, estimating that closing the gap could add $1.3
trillion to LMIC economies by 2030.
"Device
costs must come down, but we also need comprehensive digital education programs
tailored to women's needs," the report
concludes, urging coordinated action from governments, mobile operators and
educators to tackle these interconnected barriers simultaneously.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
