GSMA Urges Greater Smartphone Affordability to Boost Mobile Internet Use in Gabon

Image: GSMA · Source

Despite widespread mobile broadband coverage in Gabon, over half the population remains offline due to smartphone affordability. The GSMA report highlights reforms that could connect an additional 180,000 people by 2031 and achieve cost recovery by 2028.

A recent report from the GSMA highlights a significant digital divide in Gabon, where over 50% of the population resides within areas covered by mobile broadband networks but does not use mobile internet services. This gap limits access to vital opportunities for education, employment, and essential services that rely increasingly on digital connectivity. The GSMA report emphasizes that one of the primary barriers to mobile internet adoption is the affordability of smartphones in Gabon. Without accessible devices, many residents cannot take advantage of existing network infrastructure.

The report suggests that targeted reforms aimed at reducing smartphone prices and improving device accessibility could substantially increase mobile internet penetration. Specifically, the GSMA estimates that such measures could enable an additional 180,000 people to connect by the year 2031. Moreover, these reforms are projected to be financially sustainable, paying for themselves by 2028 through expanded mobile internet usage and the resulting economic benefits.

This call comes amid expanding digital infrastructure in the region, where network coverage has outpaced user adoption. Bridging the affordability gap on the device side is seen as a crucial strategy to ensure that mobile broadband networks deliver broader social and economic inclusion. Increasing smartphone affordability aligns with broader telecom sector goals to drive digital inclusion, foster innovation, and support national development agendas.

While network deployment is a critical foundation, the GSMA report underscores that without complementary policies and market interventions to lower device costs, significant portions of Gabon's population will remain offline. Future efforts may include regulatory changes, subsidies, partnerships with device manufacturers, or economic incentives to stimulate affordable smartphone availability.

As digital connectivity becomes increasingly vital for daily life, the GSMA’s findings serve as a prompt for stakeholders across government, industry, and civil society to prioritize making smartphones more affordable. This would help unlock mobile internet access for more Gabonese people and leverage existing network infrastructure to enhance social inclusion and economic opportunity.

The report does not outline specific reform proposals but clearly identifies smartphone affordability as a key barrier to mobile internet adoption in Gabon. Achieving the forecasted expansion in connectivity depends on coordinated efforts to address this challenge alongside continued network development and digital literacy initiatives.