Billions risk being locked out of the AI revolution due to smartphone costs
- Published on 16/09/2026 - 8:15 GMT+2•Updated 8:16 Global telecoms industry body GSMA is calling for urgent action to make smartphones more affordable for people living in low- and middle-income countries so that everyone can “benefit from the AI revolution”.
- The call to action comes as the organisation launches its State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2026, an annual study of global mobile connectivity.
- The report found that while 4.8 billion people now use mobile internet on their own device, 3.4 billion do not, despite 90% of them living within mobile broadband coverage.
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- Published on 16/09/2026 - 8:15 GMT+2•Updated 8:16 Global telecoms industry body GSMA is calling for urgent action to make smartphones more affordable for people living in low- and middle-income countries so that everyone can “benefit from the AI revolution”.
- The call to action comes as the organisation launches its State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2026, an annual study of global mobile connectivity.
- The report found that while 4.8 billion people now use mobile internet on their own device, 3.4 billion do not, despite 90% of them living within mobile broadband coverage.
Sources: Euronews