Telecom
GSMA Report Reveals 100M Women Per Year Will Need to Adopt Mobile Internet to Close the Gender Gap by 2030
Over 800 million women will need to adopt mobile internet in order to close the digital gender gap by 2030 across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), according to the latest Mobile Gender Gap Report published by the GSMA on which .
The latest figures indicate that the gulf between the numbers of men and women using mobile internet will not be closed without an enhanced effort by a broad range of stakeholders. Progress in reducing the mobile internet gender gap remains stalled, with women in LMICs 19% less likely than men to use it, equating to around 310 million fewer women than men.
If the gap remains unchanged, current forecasts suggest that only 360 million more women (less than half of the 800m target) are expected to start using mobile broadband by the end of the decade.
The Mobile Gender Gap Report analyses mobile ownership and mobile internet usage in low- and middle-income countries[1] (LMICs) in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The report provides figures that uncover the scale of the mobile gender gap in each region, a review of the barriers to mobile ownership and internet adoption, and recommended actions for stakeholders, including policymakers, regulators, mobile operators and NGOs.
It is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) via the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation.
Other key findings from the report include:
- While almost two-thirds (61%) of women across LMICs are now using mobile internet, their rate of adoption has slowed for the second year in a row – with only 60 million women adopting mobile internet in 2022, versus 75 million in 2021.
- 900 million women across LMICs still aren’t connected to mobile broadband, of which two-thirds live in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Once women own a smartphone, their awareness and use of mobile internet is almost on par with men. Despite this, women are 17% less likely than men to own a smartphone in LMICs, translating into around 250 million fewer women than men.
- There are still 440 million women across LMICs who do not own a mobile phone and are difficult to reach.
- For mobile users who are already aware of mobile internet, the top-reported barriers to adoption are still affordability (primarily of handsets), literacy and digital skills, and safety and security concerns.
- The majority of men and women who use mobile internet believe it has an overall positive impact on their lives and use it every day, with little difference between women and men.
- Mobile ownership and mobile internet usage deliver significant benefits to women and their families, the economy and business.
“Mobile phones are the primary, and often only, source of internet access in LMICs, particularly in rural communities, so it’s alarming to see women’s digital inclusion slow for the second year in a row,” said Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA. “Greater collaboration across all stakeholders in the digital community, from governments to operators, NGOs to internet companies, is needed to enable more women to access and use mobile internet and ultimately ensure women are not being left behind in an increasingly digital world.”
In 2016, the GSMA launched the GSMA Connected Women Commitment initiative, to support mobile operators reduce the gender gap in the customer base of their mobile internet or mobile money services. Since its inception, over 40 mobile operators across LMICs have made formal commitments to reduce the gender gap, collectively reaching over 65 million additional women, delivering significant socio-economic benefits to underserved women, their communities, and the economy.
Mobile network operators (MNOs) have been able to narrow the mobile gender gap by taking informed, targeted actions to address women’s needs and the barriers they face to mobile internet adoption and use. But to fully address the issue, and achieve meaningful progress, will require increased focus and targeted action from all stakeholders, including MNOs, internet companies, policymakers and regulators, and the development community.
Shoprite, once a beacon of modern retail shopping in Nigeria, is currently grappling with significant operational challenges as several of its stores across the country face closure or remain understocked.
Investigations reveal that Shoprite outlets in Ilorin and Ibadan have permanently shut down, while other branches, including the popular Ikeja City Mall outlet in Lagos and the Jabi Lake Mall branch in Abuja, are struggling with empty shelves and few customers. The usually bustling shopping spots now resemble shadows of their former selves, with hollow aisles and dwindling merchandise.
A staff member at Ikeja City Mall told our correspondent that the new management is in the middle of tough negotiations with suppliers that have delayed restocking. “Hopefully, when that is completed, things will return to normal,” she said, while also admitting that the impasse has stretched on for months, leaving many workers anxious about the future.
Similarly, workers at the Jabi Lake Mall branch lamented a lack of supplies for over two months, expressing fears about their job security. “Everybody here, our chest is beating because we don’t know what’s happening,” one employee disclosed.
Shoprite first entered Nigeria in 2005 and quickly expanded to multiple cities, employing thousands of Nigerians. However, a combination of rising operational costs, including exorbitant rents such as the reported ₦66 million monthly rent at the Kano Ado Bayero Mall branch, forex challenges, and fierce competition have severely affected the chain’s operations.
Despite the gloomy outlook, Shoprite management insists they are not exiting Nigeria. A spokesperson said efforts are ongoing to resolve the supply chain issues and assured that shelves would be restocked by the end of September.
Still, with two branches already closed and others appearing deserted, shoppers and workers alike are left wondering whether Shoprite can regain its footing and recapture its former dominance in Nigeria’s retail sector.
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has secured regulatory approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to lease frequency spectrum from T2 Mobile Limited (formerly 9Mobile), marking a strategic shift in its network expansion plans.
Effective October 1, 2025, MTN will lease 5MHz in the 900MHz band and 15MHz in the 1800MHz band from T2 Mobile for a period of three years.
This move supports MTN’s national roaming agreement with T2, enabling shared infrastructure to manage growing network traffic and improve service delivery
According to MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola, the agreement aligns with the company’s Ambition 2025 strategy, which emphasizes cost-effective, sustainable growth, industry collaboration, and digital inclusion.
In a related development, MTN Nigeria has announced it will not renew its current spectrum lease with Natcom Development and Investment Ltd (Ntel). That lease—covering 5MHz in the 900MHz band and 10MHz in the 1800MHz band across 17 states—is set to expire on November 29, 2025.
MTN reaffirmed its commitment to investing in infrastructure and strategic partnerships to deliver high-quality, innovative telecom services across Nigeria.
Telecom
MTN Foundation Opens Applications for Phase 2 of SAIL Teachers’ Fellowship to Train 5,000 Nigerian Educators in Digital Skills
MTN Foundation, in partnership with SAIL Innovation Lab and Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), has announced the commencement of the second phase of the MTN SAIL Teachers Fellowship Programme with a call for applications.
The initiative aims to equip 5,000 public school teachers across Nigeria with cutting-edge digital skills, innovative teaching methods, and leadership capacity to transform the learning experience in public schools.
The call for applications, open until 19th October 2025 is part of the MTN Foundation’s continued commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s education sector and empowering educators with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
In addition, participants will gain access to the MTN Skills Academy, an online learning platform offering free, self-paced courses on coding, data analytics, digital marketing and other in-demand skills.
This ensures teachers can continue their professional development long after the training period, equipping them with the tools to prepare students for the opportunities of the digital economy.
Speaking on the launch of Phase 2, Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director, MTN Foundation, said: “Teachers are the backbone of our education system. By empowering them with digital competencies and innovative teaching methods, we are directly investing in the future of our youths.
This Fellowship Programme is designed to ensure that our educators are not just keeping pace with global best practices but are actively shaping the next generation of innovators and leaders.”
Participants in the programme will undergo intensive training on topics such as technology integration in the classroom, modern pedagogical techniques, digital tools, and personal leadership.
The training will be delivered by experienced facilitators and education experts to ensure a blend of practical knowledge and peer-driven learning.
The MTN SAIL Teachers Fellowship Programme, initiated in 2024, is a part of the Foundation’s broader mission to catalyse sustainable development initiatives that make measurable impact in the areas of education, health, and economic empowerment.
Since its inception, MTN Foundation has reached millions of Nigerians through various programmes, reaffirming its role as a catalyst for positive change.
Interested teachers can learn more and apply via https://bit.ly/STFP2025 as applications are expected to close on October 19, 2025.
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