Bangladesh lags behind in smartphone, internet usage

Bangladesh trails nine out of 12 lower-middle-income countries across four regions in terms of smartphone ownership and mobile internet usage, according to a recent report by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA).

The GSMA report, titled “The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2024”, published in October, highlights various aspects of mobile internet usage in 12 lower-middle-income countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The findings reveal that 41% of urban residents and 26% of rural residents in Bangladesh use smartphones.

Countries like Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Guatemala, and Mexico outperform Bangladesh in this area, with only Ethiopia and Uganda trailing behind.

Bangladesh also lags in mobile internet usage, with rates of 43% in urban areas and 27% in rural areas.

Daily internet usage is reported at 40% in cities and 24% in villages, with Ethiopia being the only country behind Bangladesh.

While mobile internet usage in rural Uganda is lower than in Bangladesh, urban Uganda surpasses it.

Most people in Bangladesh are aware of mobile internet but do not use it, citing digital literacy and skills as major obstacles. For urban users, safety concerns prevail, while rural users prioritise affordability. 

Smartphone cost is a significant barrier for 11% of rural and 8% of urban users. 

Additionally, 28% of urban and 19% of rural users cannot use mobile internet due to illiteracy. 

For existing users, the high cost of data is the primary deterrent, followed by a lack of time.

Despite some progress, awareness of mobile internet has grown only marginally, from 72% in 2019 to 75% in 2023, according to GSMA.