According to a recent GSMA report, nearly 750 million more individuals gained access to 5G in 2023, with over half of this increase attributed to rollouts by Indian operators.
The consumer experience on mobile networks saw notable enhancements, as global average download speeds rose from 34 Mbps to 48 Mbps. This marks the most significant proportional and absolute increase recorded thus far. In South Asia, particularly, the launch of 5G in India resulted in a remarkable 70 per cent rise in average download speeds for the region.
In contrast to many other surveyed nations, smartphone ownership among rural populations in India grew from 2022 to 2023. The report also highlighted that literate mobile internet users across seven analysed countries engaged in a broader range of tasks weekly compared to those with lower literacy levels. Interestingly, low-literacy mobile internet users in India averaged at least eight different activities weekly, surpassing both low-literacy and literate groups from other countries included in the study.
Further, the report indicated that while mobile internet connectivity is expanding globally, challenges persist for the 3.45 billion individuals who remain unconnected. Bridging the gap for those with access to current mobile internet services could potentially contribute an estimated $3.5 trillion to global GDP between 2023 and 2030. Currently, around 4.6 billion people (57 per cent of the global population) are using mobile internet on personal devices, while approximately 350 million people (4 per cent) reside in largely remote areas without mobile internet coverage. Additionally, about 3.1 billion individuals (39 per cent) live within mobile internet coverage but do not utilise it.
