The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) has warned that rising smartphone component costs could threaten digital inclusion as internet-enabled devices become less affordable in emerging markets, including Nigeria.
The association raised the concern in its State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2026, released on Wednesday, saying handset affordability remained the biggest barrier to mobile internet adoption across surveyed low- and middle-income countries.
GSMA said more than 3.4 billion people globally still do not use mobile internet, with more than 90% of them living in areas covered by mobile broadband networks.
GSMA said the poorest 20% of people in low- and middle-income countries spent an average of 44% of their monthly income on entry-level smartphones, while that share rises to 76% in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The association said smartphone affordability is coming under further pressure from rising memory and chipset costs, driven by growing demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centres.
He said the digital divide was increasingly becoming a divide between people who could afford to participate in the digital economy and those who could not.
Badrinath called for coordinated action among policymakers, mobile operators, device manufacturers and component suppliers, including support for affordable components, device reuse, lower taxation and improved distribution systems.
He warned that failure to address device affordability could restrict access to education, healthcare, financial services and public services.
The GSMA report comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with a significant gap between mobile network coverage and actual internet usage.
The push came as Nigeria’s broadband penetration crossed 50% in late 2025, although high smartphone costs remained one of the barriers to wider internet access.
Nigeria continues to face broader challenges around digital inclusion, with device affordability emerging as a key issue alongside connectivity and digital skills.
In September, Nairametrics reported that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) identified high device and connectivity costs, inaccessible digital products and inadequate digital skills as major barriers to digital inclusion.
The commission said effective digital inclusion requires not only internet access but also appropriate devices, affordable broadband, relevant digital skills and accessible digital platforms.
