Mobile phone ownership in Africa has reached 68 per cent of the population aged 10 and above, but only 42 per cent use the internet, leaving a 26-percentage-point gap that highlights the continent’s persistent challenge in converting access to mobile devices into meaningful digital connectivity.
The disparity, reported by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in its Facts and Figures 2026, is the widest among the organisation’s six global regions, suggesting that access to mobile phones does not necessarily translate into regular internet use across Africa.
The report found that although mobile phones remain the most common gateway to the internet, ownership and internet adoption are not directly proportional. Some individuals rely on other people’s devices to access online services, while others use their phones exclusively for voice calls without connecting to the internet.
Africa’s figures compare unfavourably with other regions, where the difference between mobile phone ownership and internet use is considerably narrower. In Asia and the Pacific, ownership exceeds internet use by just four percentage points, while the gap stands at 10 percentage points in the Arab States. Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Americas have smaller differences, with both indicators approaching universal coverage.
Although the gap is narrowing across all regions as internet use grows faster than mobile phone ownership, Africa continues to face a wider divide in translating device access into internet adoption.
The continent’s figures also come against the backdrop of growing global connectivity. ITU estimates that 6.3 billion people, representing 76 per cent of the world’s population, will be using the internet in 2026, up from a revised estimate of 6.1 billion, or 74 per cent, in 2025. However, about two billion people remain offline.
The report found that internet usage differs considerably according to income levels, with 93 per cent of people in high-income countries using the internet, compared with only 32 per cent in low-income countries.
The difference is also reflected in mobile broadband consumption. Average monthly mobile broadband traffic per subscription stands at 20 gigabytes in high-income countries, nearly six times the 3.4 gigabytes recorded in low-income countries.
Meanwhile, access to more advanced mobile networks remains uneven. Although 97 per cent of the global population lives within reach of at least a 3G network, 5G coverage reaches 59 per cent globally, ranging from 86 per cent in high-income countries to just four per cent in low-income economies.
ITU noted that affordability, network availability, service quality and digital skills remain essential to achieving meaningful connectivity, which goes beyond simply having access to a mobile device or network.
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, secretary-general of ITU, said being offline in the age of artificial intelligence means being excluded from opportunities in education, employment and other areas of economic activity.
She called for expanded connectivity to ensure that people everywhere can participate in the growing digital economy.
Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, also emphasised the need to prioritise digital skills alongside access to technology, warning that the benefits of emerging technologies could remain out of reach for many without meaningful connectivity.
The report said that as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes economies and societies, affordable internet access and digital skills will play a central role in determining who benefits from technological advancement.
