Owning a mobile phone and accessing the internet can be life changing. The scale and reach of mobile technology is enabling billions of people around the world to access crucial services and information to meet their life needs, often for the first time. Over 3 billion people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) now access the internet on a mobile phone. Mobile is the primary way men and women access the internet in developing countries, accounting for 85 per cent of broadband connections in 2020.
Yet, mobile ownership and use remain unequal. While 83 per cent of women across LMICs now own a mobile phone and 58 per cent use mobile internet, women are being left behind in an increasingly connected world. Women are still less likely than men to have access to mobile phones and use mobile services. This is particularly true for women who are the most underserved, including those who have low literacy levels, low incomes, live in a rural area or have a disability. However, gender itself is a factor in many parts of the world. Analysis shows that even when women have the same levels of education, income, literacy and employment as men, they are still less likely to own a mobile phone or use mobile internet, suggesting that other issues are at play, such as discrimination and social norms.
In this unprecedented year of the global COVID-19 pandemic, access to mobile and mobile internet have become more important than ever. Mobile has provided people with a way to continue living their lives despite lockdown restrictions, serving as a vital tool to access critical information, services and opportunities. Mobile has enabled people to stay connected, to keep working or earning an income, to access important services such as education and healthcare, to search for accurate information and to purchase the goods they need.