Women in Sub-Saharan Africa are 36 percent less likely to use mobile internet than men do, and this is one of the biggest gender gaps in the world, said Claire Sibthorpe, the Head of Programme for Digital Inclusion at GSMA, while reporting on mobile internet connectivity in 2023 at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) conference on Tuesday, October 17.

ALSO READ: Kagame urges collective efforts to end inequalities in digital access

As per the report, a total of 3 billion people, equivalent to 38 percent of the world’s population, resided in regions with mobile internet access but opted not to use it.

"What&039;s worrying is that the gap in Sub-Saharan Africa has stayed the same since we first started measuring it in 2017, despite all the talk and work to try and fix it. So, it's still 36 percent, and it hasn't improved much in the past few years,” she added.

ALSO READ: Rwanda lays out plans to accelerate mobile phone penetration

In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), adults living in rural areas are 29 per cent less likely to use mobile internet compared to those in urban areas, while women are 19 percent less likely to use it compared to men.

In low-income countries (LDCs), only a quarter of the population currently has access to mobile internet, which is a stark contrast to the 52 percent in all LMICs and 85 percent in high-income countries (HICs).

Sub-Saharan Africa stands out as the region dealing with the most significant disparities in both coverage and usage.

Despite this, the report shows that 42 percent of adults in that part of the continent are now using mobile internet, but it also reveals that more than half of adults still do not have access to it.

ALSO READ: Affordable broadband: A prerequisite for opportunities in the digital era

Sibthorpe cited a litany of reasons for this gap across the region. Among people who are aware of mobile internet, the main hurdles mentioned are related to affordability, particularly the cost of phones, as well as issues associated with literacy and digital skills. There are also concerns about safety and security, along with a lack of locally relevant content and services.

In the 2023 GSMA report, there&039;s a new focus on smartphone ownership, the number of people who own smartphones and connectivity based on the type of device used. Smartphones play a key role in accessing the internet, as the majority of internet users primarily rely on smartphones.

ALSO READ: Low uptake of smartphones hinders digital penetration

"Out of these individuals, two-thirds didn't even own any type of phone, which is quite a notable statistic. This is why there are numerous discussions at this conference regarding the accessibility and affordability of mobile handsets. For scale, the affordability of an entry-level internet-capable device in Sub-Saharan Africa significantly worsened last year,” explained Sibthorpe.

"To illustrate, for the poorest 20 percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa, an entry-level internet-capable device costs, on average, 95 percent of their monthly income.”

Need for a collaborative approach

The report, presented during a major session at MWC titled "Digital Inclusion For All: Reducing the Usage Gap in Africa,” detailed a setback in Rwanda's government agenda for digital inclusion.

ALSO READ: Rwanda recommits to address digital divide

When referring to the digital inclusion agenda, it emphasizes the need to pay special attention to groups that are often left behind, such as women and persons with disabilities. These groups most often do not have access to technology and its benefits. Therefore, the pressing question today is how to ensure that even those who are seemingly already covered by digital connectivity infrastructure can be meaningfully connected and can fully enjoy the benefits it offers.

The plan presented by Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, primarily insists on the need for a collaborative approach.

Ingabire stressed: "It’s not a one partner job; that's the reality. We can’t rely solely on governments or the private sector to address this issue – we must work together to form a coalition or alliance dedicated to building digital literacy skills.”

ALSO READ: Why digital skills are crucial for the modern workplace

"By improving digital literacy skills on a broader scale, we also boost our citizens' willingness to invest in digital solutions. This builds a strong justification for the value proposition because they have already determined their needs. But increasing digital literacy cannot be accomplished in isolation either.”

In short, the government has been conducting various initiatives, including the long-running Digital Ambassador Programme, which has been in operation for over five years. This program involves recruiting digital ambassadors and deploying them in underserved communities with the aim of providing citizens with training in fundamental digital literacy.

"It became evident that device affordability, device ownership, and digital literacy are interdependent,” Ingabire said. "Once you have access to the right device, it becomes straightforward to deliver appropriate content, user-friendly services, and products that will ultimately promote digital literacy.”

The minister noted that they currently have 1,500 digital ambassadors, but this number is not enough. Their goal is to collaborate with partners, including GIZ, to expand the digital ambassador network to at least 5,000. Ultimately, their mission is to ensure that, at the smallest government administrative level, which is a village, there is a digital ambassador responsible for every 30 to 50 households, overseeing the entire process consistently.

ALSO READ: Awareness around cybercrime must grow as mobile penetration deepens

"After a year or two of following a well-structured training programme, we'll start to witness the advantages of these efforts. As we continue with these initiatives, the young people applying their skills will be better positioned to access the appropriate products and services, particularly in local languages. To me, this is not just a business matter; it's a call to action for all of you,” she concluded.