In the GSMA Intelligence’s report titled Closing the Mobile Connectivity Gap in Developing Asia Pacific, commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revealed that 1.2 billion from 4.3 billion people in Developing Asia Pacific are still remain offline. They comprise nearly half, or 46%, of the global unconnected population.
While mobile connectivity is almost universal, with 98% of people in Developing APAC living near a 4G network, internet usage hasn’t grown as much. Although mobile internet access has improved from 62% to 71% between 2020 and 2025, about 1.1 billion people who could get broadband are still offline. This shows a big gap in usage, caused by issues like high costs, lack of digital skills, safety and security worries, and not enough relevant content.
Mobile internet usage varies by area. East Asia has a high mobile internet rate of 93%, mainly due to China, but it drops to just 36% in the Pacific Islands (like Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands). The Pacific Islands also struggle with a coverage gap of 16%, followed by Central and West Asia at 11% (for instance, in Pakistan). Southeast Asia has experienced the fastest growth in connectivity over the last five years, with mobile internet usage increasing by almost 20 percentage points to reach 76% by the end of 2025, driven by countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
There is also a technology divide within the region that affects how people connect to mobile internet and the quality they receive. Most (93%) mobile internet users in Developing APAC use a 4G or 5G smartphone, while 7% still use a 2G feature phone or 3G smartphone. This number goes up to 23% in Central and West Asia and 59% in the Pacific Islands. Countries where over 90% of mobile internet users have 4G or 5G see 50% higher data usage per person compared to those with fewer users on this technology.
Women in the region are 12% less likely to use mobile internet than men, with the biggest gender gaps in the Pacific Islands and South Asia, reaching over 25%. People in rural areas are 25% less likely to use mobile internet than those in cities, reflecting more significant challenges related to cost, digital skills, and safety.
John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer for the GSMA and President of the GSMA Foundation, said, “Closing the mobile usage gap is a development imperative, with proven impacts on poverty reduction, education, health and economic growth. Progress will require pro-investment policy reforms, alongside concerted action to address the barriers people face to getting online. Governments increasingly rely on digitalisation to boost productivity, drive innovation and enhance national competitiveness, underpinning the urgent need for policy change. Without action, the usage gap could continue to widen as more advanced markets move towards next-generation technologies.”
Without extra investments beyond what is already planned, Developing APAC is expected to miss the ITU’s goal for universal connectivity by 18 percentage points by 2030. To meet this goal, it is estimated that at least $316 billion needs to be invested in the region. Currently, $132 billion is expected to come from the private sector and consumers, leaving a gap of $184 billion. This shortfall will require government and regulatory support, along with more funding, to address issues like making devices affordable, improving digital skills, and increasing network capacity.
The report also suggests that closing the 4G connectivity gap by 2030 could boost GDP by around $230 billion in Developing APAC. Achieving universal connectivity would bring additional benefits such as reducing poverty, improving education and healthcare access, humanitarian aid, and reducing carbon emissions.
The need for investment to close the mobile internet usage gap in Developing APAC is evident. To bridge this gap, there must be renewed focus on policy, targeted investments, and cooperation between public and private sectors. Key areas to address include making devices more affordable, enhancing digital skills, developing incentive programs, creating a supportive investment climate, and increasing network capacity to achieve universal connectivity and greater digital adoption.
Read the full report here: Closing the Mobile Connectivity Gap in Developing Asia Pacific