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Trends in African mobile internet and digital usage

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2026-09-30 16:09 UTC → 2026-10-19 12:42 UTC · added removed

Global and Trends in African mobile internet connectivity trends and digital usage

The GSMA report ‘The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2026’ highlights a significant digital divide. While global mobile internet usage reached 4.8 billion people landscape in 2025, growth is slowing, and 3.4 billion people still lack access. In Africa, the focus Africa is shifting transitioning from a focus on basic network coverage to achieving meaningful internet usage. Despite expanding networks, nearly one billion people While mobile broadband coverage has expanded to reach 87% of the population, a significant usage gap persists; only 27% of the population actively uses mobile internet. This deficit is particularly pronounced in covered areas remain offline due sub-Saharan Africa, where the usage gap stands at 65%, compared to a global average of 38%. Barriers to connectivity remain centered on the high costs for of devices, data, and electricity, alongside limited digital skills. In Madagascar, the government is conducting a Digital Readiness Assessment with UNDP support to address a 20.4% penetration rate. Meanwhile, entrepreneurship programs rate, while negotiations with providers like the Tony Elumelu Foundation Starlink are attempting to leverage the youth population being explored to drive economic growth. improve access. New trends indicate emerging interest in advanced technologies. In Tunisia, data reveals a trend of ‘passive internet usage’ across from the continent. While 83% National Telecommunications Authority (INT) shows that nearly 48% of internet users connect daily, between 90% and 96% utilize artificial intelligence, with ChatGPT being the most dominant tool among 96.3% of data AI adopters. This usage is dedicated most prevalent among younger demographics, specifically those aged 10 to social media, instant messaging, and video content, leaving high-value services underutilized. In Senegal, Nigeria, and Uganda, fewer than 38% of users access online public services, while e-commerce and agricultural data usage remains below 30% in Ghana 24, and Ethiopia. A stark urban-rural divide persists: in Ethiopia, daily internet use is 29% in cities compared closely linked to just 4% in rural areas, higher education and in Nigeria, diversified usage drops from 41% in urban centers to 13% in the countryside. income levels. To capture potential GDP growth, bridge these divides, initiatives like the GSMA emphasizes that efforts must move beyond smartphone affordability toward enhancing roadmap aim to connect one billion Africans by 2030 by addressing infrastructure and affordability. Efforts are also focusing on critical digital literacy in health, education, pillars, including data centers, cloud services, and finance. AI-ready networks, alongside entrepreneurship programs designed to leverage the continent’s youth population.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-19 12:42 UTC Trends in African mobile internet and digital usage
  2. 2026-09-30 16:09 UTC Global and African mobile internet connectivity trends
  3. 2026-09-30 05:02 UTC Global and African mobile internet connectivity trends
  4. 2026-09-28 14:03 UTC Global and African mobile internet connectivity trends
  5. 2026-09-26 07:23 UTC Global and African mobile internet connectivity trends
  6. 2026-09-21 06:11 UTC Global and Rwandan mobile internet connectivity
  7. 2026-09-19 11:55 UTC Global and Rwandan mobile internet connectivity

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