Wednesday
March 11
2020

GSMA Report: Big Gender Gap in Mobile Internet Access

A GSMA study shows that despite progress, the gender gap in mobile internet usage remains substantial, with over 300 million fewer women than men accessing the internet from a mobile device in low- and middle-income countries. Affordability remains the critical barrier to mobile ownership, while lower awareness, as well as a lack of literacy and digital skills, are vital factors preventing women’s mobile internet use. The industry is renewing its commitment to reaching women with digital and financial services to address the persistent mobile gender gap.

The study finds that the mobile internet gender gap has narrowed and 54 per cent of women in low- and middle-income countries now use mobile internet, up from 44 per cent in 2017. However, the underlying gender gap in mobile ownership remains largely unchanged and 165 million fewer women than men own a mobile.

Photo courtesy of pixelfusion3d.

Source: Advanced Television (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Technology
Tags
digital inclusion, global development