The GSM Association (GSMA) has reported a continued slowdown in the rate at which women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are adopting mobile internet.

This was disclosed during a webinar held to launch its latest 2025 Mobile Gender Gap Report.

According to the report, progress in bridging the mobile internet gender gap in LMICs has stalled. Women in these regions remain 14 per cent less likely than men to use mobile internet—a disparity that translates to 235 million fewer women than men being online via mobile.

“A staggering 885 million women in LMICs still do not use mobile internet, with approximately 60 per cent residing in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa,” the report stated.

Now in its eighth edition, the GSMA report analysed data from 15 LMICs to explore the reasons why women are significantly less likely to access and use mobile internet than men.

It highlighted the transformative power of mobile internet for women, citing its role in strengthening social connections, enhancing economic empowerment, and improving access to vital services such as healthcare and education.

Women who do access mobile internet reportedly experience notable benefits, including increased livelihood opportunities and improved overall well-being.

“While there has been an encouraging rise in female mobile internet users—63 per cent of women in LMICs are now online—a substantial gender gap persists,” the report said.

Between 2017 and 2020, the gender gap narrowed significantly, dropping from 25 per cent to 15 per cent. However, this progress stalled in 2021 and 2022, with a slight reversal. By 2023, the gap returned to 15 per cent, but it currently stands at 14 per cent, showing little improvement.

The gap remains widest in South Asia (32 per cent) and Sub-Saharan Africa (29 per cent).

Claire Sibthorpe, Head of Digital Inclusion at the GSMA, described the stagnation as disheartening and called for urgent, coordinated action from stakeholders to bridge the digital gender divide.

“The mobile internet gender gap will not close on its own. It stems from entrenched social, economic, and cultural barriers that disproportionately affect women,” she said.

Sibthorpe cited the GSMA’s Connected Women Commitment Initiative as an example of progress, noting that since its inception in 2016, operator partners have connected over 80 million additional women to mobile internet or mobile money services.

Despite gains, significant challenges remain. While 61 per cent of women in LMICs now own a smartphone, an estimated 945 million still do not—230 million more than their male counterparts. This figure has shown little improvement since 2023.

The cost of internet-enabled phones continues to be a major barrier. For women in LMICs, a basic smartphone can cost up to 24 per cent of their monthly income—double the 12 per cent it represents for men.

In addition, lack of literacy and digital skills remains a significant deterrent. Even when women are aware of mobile internet, they often refrain from using it or use it less frequently and for fewer purposes than men.

The GSMA estimates that closing the mobile internet gender gap in LMICs between 2023 and 2030 could contribute $1.3 trillion to global GDP. Moreover, closing the gap in mobile ownership and usage could generate an additional $230 billion in revenue for the mobile industry.