GSMA says smartphone costs could deepen the coming AI divide
The global rush to build artificial intelligence may be making the basic gateway to the internet more expensive for the people who need it most. That is the uncomfortable warning from the GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2026, released in Hong Kong on September 18. The industry body, which represents mobile operators and […] The post GSMA says smartphone costs could deepen the…
The GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2026 warns that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence may exacerbate the digital divide by making the basic gateway to the internet more expensive for those who need it most. According to the report, over 3.4 billion people still lack mobile internet access despite residing within mobile broadband coverage, primarily due to the unaffordability of entry-level smartphones, with costs representing up to 44% of average monthly income for the poorest 20% in low- and middle-income countries.
Vivek Badrinath, GSMA Director General, emphasizes that while AI has the potential to improve lives significantly, it is meaningless without internet access. The report identifies handset affordability as the primary barrier to mobile internet adoption in surveyed low- and middle-income countries, surpassing even digital skills.
The growing demand for AI infrastructure is intensifying competition for memory and other components, which in turn is driving up smartphone costs, further hindering widespread adoption.
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