About 1.2 billion people in Developing Asia-Pacific remain offline despite near-universal mobile coverage, according to a new report from GSMA Intelligence.

In a statement on Wednesday, GSMA said the offline population represents 46 percent of the world’s unconnected people.

Besides, GSMA said Mobile coverage is almost complete, with 98 percent of the region’s population within reach of a 4G network. But Internet use has not kept pace. Mobile internet adoption rose from 62 percent to 71 percent between 2020 and 2025, but about 1.1 billion people who can access broadband still do not use it.

The report, commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), attributes the usage gap to affordability, limited digital skills, safety and security concerns, and a lack of relevant content.

Southeast Asia has shown the fastest connectivity growth of the past five years, with mobile internet penetration up almost 20 percentage points to 76 percent at the end of 2025, led by Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Women are 12 percent less likely than men to use mobile internet, with the largest gender gaps in the Pacific Islands and South Asia at just over 25 percent.

Rural residents are 25 percent less likely than urban residents to use it, reflecting stronger barriers related to affordability, digital skills, and safety.

$184 billion investment gap

Without investment beyond expected and planned levels, the region is projected to fall 18 percentage points short of the International Telecommunication Union’s 2030 universal connectivity target.

The report estimates that at least US$316 billion must be invested across the region. The private sector and consumers are expected to provide $132 billion, leaving the $184 billion gap.

The GSMA highlighted closing it will require pro-investment policy and additional financing to address device affordability, digital skills, and additional network capacity.

The report estimates that closing the 4G connectivity gap by 2030 would add about $230 billion to regional gross domestic product.

John Giusti, chief regulatory officer of the GSMA and president of the GSMA Foundation, called closing the usage gap “a development imperative.”

He said progress will require pro-investment policy reform and action on the barriers people face in getting online. He warned that the gap could widen as more advanced markets move to next-generation technologies.

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