Over 800 million women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) still don’t use mobile internet despite the fact that closing the gender gap in access could unlock $1.3 trillion in GDP by 2030, according to the GSMA. In Africa, where mobile is the primary pathway to digital inclusion, this gap translates into fewer chances to learn, earn, and participate fully in the digital economy. That’s why tracking progress from year-to-year matters. 

Each year, the GSMA’s Mobile Gender Gap Report provides a comprehensive look at this issue across LMICs, serving as a vital benchmark for measuring progress—or lack thereof. And the contrast between the 2024 and 2025 reports is striking.  

The 2024 report brought cautious optimism. For the first time in two years, the gender gap narrowed, thanks to a surge in mobile internet adoption among women, seemingly recovering from the pandemic’s disproportionate effects. But in stark contrast, the 2025 report  struck a more sobering tone. Progress has stalled. The gender gap remains virtually unchanged, and women’s mobile adoption has slowed significantly. 

In this TechTalk Thursday article, we’ll compare findings from the GSMA’s 2024 and 2025 Mobile Gender Gap Reports (reflecting data from 2023 and 2024), unpack the shifting trends, and explore what these changes mean for Africa’s digital future.  

Gains, Then Gaps: What the Numbers Really Say 

In 2023, the digital gender divide seemed—at last—to narrow down. A record 120 million women across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) came online, pushing the mobile internet gender gap down to 15%, a level not seen since 2020. But in 2024, that momentum didn’t just slow—it stalled. 

Only 50 million women adopted mobile internet in 2024. The gender gap? Barely moved, inching to 14%. That’s still 235 million fewer women online than men across LMICs. The progress of one year gave way to the inertia of the next, and the consequences go far beyond statistics. 

1.5 billion women across LMICs now use mobile internet, which is impressive at face value. But it also masks a harsh reality: of the 885 million women who are still offline, and 60% of them live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. These are the regions with the widest gender gaps—29% and 32%, respectively—and in rural areas, those numbers climb even higher. 

Perhaps the most telling is this: men’s adoption rates haven’t changed. So, the digital divide isn’t ‘not closing’ because we’re reaching everyone—it’s not closing because progress among women has slowed down. That’s not inclusion. 

The stall isn’t limited to internet use. The smartphone gender gap remains at 14%, with 230 million fewer women owning smartphones. Even basic mobile ownership shows no meaningful shift. The gender gap has sat at 8% for eight years, and 400 million women still don’t own a mobile phone. These are the hardest to reach—and, clearly, the least served. 

Still, not all is bleak. Sub-Saharan Africa—the region usually with the widest gap—saw a small but steady narrowing. From 36% in 2022 to 32% in 2023, and down to 29% in 2024, progress is worth acknowledging. It hints that some interventions are working, at least regionally. But let’s be clear: progress at this pace is fragile. Without consistent, targeted action, it’s easily undone. 

In the end, the mobile gender gap isn’t just about who has a phone or who’s online. It’s about who gets to participate in the digital economy, who can access opportunities, and who is left behind. The story the numbers tell in 2024 isn’t one of collapse—but of complacency. And that, arguably, is the greater threat.  

Source: GSMA Consumer Survey, 2024 –Key (men- Burgundy, Women -Red)  

Why the Momentum Stalled: Barriers That Won’t Budge  

Despite years of progress, the gender gap in mobile internet access has stopped narrowing. The reasons are complex, but not new: affordability, skills, safety, and social norms remain entrenched barriers, and, in many cases, they’ve deepened. 

Affordability continues to be the most cited barrier across both reports. The cost of handsets remains a hinderance to mobile internet adoption. And it’s not just the upfront cost of a device—it’s the rising cost of data that’s tightening up the grip. As economies face inflation and telecom infrastructure struggles to keep pace with demand, data affordability has gone from a background issue to a frontline concern. Even among women who are already online, many report having to ration their use because of data costs. So, affordability isn’t just about entry, but it’s about sustained, meaningful use. 

Digital skills, too, remain a silent divider. Both reports call out the gap, but the 2025 edition goes further, stressing the need for gender-targeted digital training. Digital literacy isn’t one-size-fits-all.  Many programs fail to account for local context, time poverty, or confidence gaps. Teaching women to use the internet isn’t enough—they need to know how to translate that use into economic and social value. 

Online safety and security are gaining overdue attention. The latest report finally foregrounds the lived risks women face online—harassment, data misuse, and reputational harm. Encouragingly, mobile operators and NGOs are beginning to address this through digital safety education and more inclusive platform design. But awareness still far outpaces action. 

Perhaps the most notable shift is in the understanding of social norms which were always just a factor but are now recognized as an active barrier, especially in conservative societies.  Women’s access is still mediated by gatekeepers (fathers, husbands, brothers) whose perceptions and permissions dictate whether she can own or use a phone. These decisions are often cloaked in concerns for “protection,” but the result is control. As the report reveals, even when mobile internet is physically available, invisible permissions continue to limit women’s autonomy.  

So, the slowdown wasn’t accidental. It was structural. Progress doesn’t stall without cause and those causes are embedded in systems that still don’t fully see, hear, or serve women. Unless we move beyond insights and into strategy, any gains we make will remain fragile.  

“Efforts are slightly paying off, but we still have a long way to go, particularly in Africa. I strongly believe that multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential to drive meaningful progress. It takes commitment by businesses, combined with policies that empower investment and foster growth. When I refer to investment, I’m referring to investment in the woman empowerment. We believe that the private sector is uniquely positioned to act in the interest of Woman.” 
– Hassan Jaber, CEO, Axian Telcom 

 

Rethinking the Road Ahead 

We need to confront the reality that progress, once slow but steady, has now hit a plateau. Also, progress made is fragile. Gains can be lost. Assumptions that inclusion will “naturally” increase over time are proving false, especially in regions where affordability, literacy, safety, and social norms converge to shut women out. If we continue to assume that mobile access for women will grow organically, we risk deepening existing inequalities. This is a moment to pause and rethink—not just our strategies, but our entire approach.  

Women’s digital inclusion demands more than well-meaning slogans or one-size-fits-all programs. It’s time for a new playbook—one that’s localized, gender-informed, and tech-enabled. Blanket solutions have done little to shift the needle. Meanwhile, the pace of men’s digital access continues to grow. So why are women dealing with slow, symbolic gains? 

We need: 

• Localized interventions that reflect women lived realities and social norms. 

• Smartphone affordability remains a fundamental barrier. While entry-level smartphones exist, they are often still out of reach for the poorest women or come with tradeoffs that limit their utility. Creative financing, subsidies, and low-cost models designed with women in mind must become standard. 

• Digital safety initiatives that go beyond awareness and give women real control and protection online. We need a proactive ecosystem of policies, tools, and norms that prioritize safety without sacrificing access.

Because the truth is the mobile gender gap isn’t inevitable. It’s the result of structural choices and that means it can be changed with structural actions. 

All stakeholders have a role to play—and the GSMA report spells this out clearly. Mobile operators, internet companies, governments, and the development community each hold a piece of the solution. But only by working together, and with women at the center, can those pieces form a whole.  The report calls that: 

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) must go beyond coverage and focus on inclusion. Pricing transparency, safety-first services, and women-friendly distribution channels are needed. 

Internet companies must design for the margins, not just the mainstream. That means creating apps and platforms with women’s digital literacy levels, languages, and realities in mind.  

Policymakers and regulators have the power to set the tone. They can lower handset taxes and data costs, invest in digital literacy programs, and create environments where women can safely and affordably get online.  

And the development community must serve as catalysts—supporting locally-led interventions, funding community-based digital literacy programs, and pushing for gender-disaggregated data.  

And as Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary- General of International Telcommunications Union said during the launch of the 2025 report;   

“I think it’s also important to remember that we need to be focused on investments. We still need investment and digital infrastructure. We also need investment in things like device and data affordability and digital and cyber security skills. That digital skill piece is fundamental. I think we should always keep top mind that the people able to benefit most from connectivity are often those that have the least exposure or experience to experience with technology”
– Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary- General, ITU.   

Bridging the gap is still possible but only if we act boldly, with intention, and in partnership. It’s time to build a digital future where women aren’t afterthoughts.