Thursday, February 5, 2026
ADVT 
Tech

Half of world population to use mobile internet by 2020: GSMA

Darpan News Desk IANS, 07 Nov, 2014 12:20 PM
    Half of the world's population will use mobile devices to access internet by 2020, according to GSMA.
     
    "It is calculated that there were 2.2 billion mobile internet subscribers in 2013, representing approximately 30 percent of the global population. GSMA Intelligence forecasts that an additional 1.6 billion citizens worldwide will become mobile internet users over the next six years, bringing the total number to 3.8 billion, or around half of the world's expected population in 2020," said the report by GSMA, a global GSM body.
     
    "Our new findings underline how mobile is now the gateway to the internet for billions of citizens across the world and will be responsible for connecting millions of currently 'offline' global citizens to the internet in the years to 2020 and beyond," said GSMA director general Anne Bouverot.
     
    In sub-Saharan Africa, just 17 percent of the population were mobile internet subscribers in 2013, but penetration is forecast to increase to 37 percent by 2020.
     
    "Many users in the developing world still access the mobile internet via 2G connections - over 60 percent do so in sub-Saharan Africa. However, a rapid technology migration is currently underway towards mobile broadband (3G/4G) internet," the report said.
     
    In 2013, 900 million of the 2.2 billion mobile internet subscribers connected via 2G, while 1.3 billion connected via mobile broadband.
     
    By 2020, it is forecast that of the 3.8 billion total mobile internet users globally, the number of 2G mobile internet subscribers will shrink to 800 million and mobile broadband internet users will have more than doubled to reach 3 billion.

    MORE Tech ARTICLES

    NASA closer to finding life beyond earth

    NASA closer to finding life beyond earth
    Do you often dream about extraterrestrial life beyond earth? NASA scientists are engaged in proving your dreams to be true.

    NASA closer to finding life beyond earth

    Posting sexy images on Facebook may backfire

    Posting sexy images on Facebook may backfire
    For young women, sharing sexy or revealing photos on social media may backfire as female friends may view them as physically and socially less attractive and less competent to perform tasks.

    Posting sexy images on Facebook may backfire

    Has Facebook made you a narcissist?

    Has Facebook made you a narcissist?
    Do your friends think you have turned into a narcissist or less empathic towards others in recent times? Check your Facebook obsession.

    Has Facebook made you a narcissist?

    Water Droplets May Be Able To Charge Smartphones

    Water Droplets May Be Able To Charge Smartphones
    What if humidity in the air can be used to power your smartphones or iPads? With new findings that water droplets can generate small amounts of electricity, this appears possible in near future.

    Water Droplets May Be Able To Charge Smartphones

    Now feel your lover's hand via computer!

    Now feel your lover's hand via computer!
    If you are one of those innumerable long distance lovers who always wished being able to feel your love despite being online, guess what? Your prayers have been answered!

    Now feel your lover's hand via computer!

    Do you customize smartphone to make friends jealous?

    Do you customize smartphone to make friends jealous?
    Do you love to customise your smartphone more often as you are more worried about how others will perceive you with a phone in hand? Join the South Koreans.

    Do you customize smartphone to make friends jealous?