In 2025, it might seem like the Internet is everywhere — powering work, play, education, and even the simplest daily interactions. Yet behind the glowing screens of the connected world lies a stark reality: 2.6 billion people — nearly one in three humans — are still offline.
This “connectivity gap” isn’t just about missing out on social media or streaming. For billions, being unconnected means no access to online education, telemedicine, digital banking, or even basic government services. It means being locked out of opportunities that the rest of the world increasingly takes for granted.
Where are the offline?
The global offline population is not evenly spread.
- South and East Asia account for the largest share, with hundreds of millions living in rural villages where mobile coverage is weak or non-existent.
- Sub-Saharan Africa faces some of the steepest barriers, from patchy network coverage to low smartphone ownership.
- The Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America also have millions unconnected, though their challenges often centre more on affordability and digital skills than infrastructure.
Zooming in further, the divide isn’t just about geography. Rural communities, women, older adults, and low-income households are disproportionately left offline. In fact, about 1.8 billion of the unconnected live in rural areas, where towers are scarce and service is costly to build. Women in low-income countries are also significantly less likely than men to use mobile internet, creating an additional layer of inequality.
Why are billions still unconnected?
If the technology exists, why are so many still cut off? The reasons are complex:
Infrastructure gaps
Remote regions often lack the physical networks. Even where coverage exists, it may be limited to low speed 2G or 3G. The connectivity gap is driven in large part by the high cost of rolling out infrastructure in remote and rural areas. For telecom operators, the return on investment in sparsely populated regions often doesn’t justify the expense, leaving millions unserved. Infrastructure gaps are therefore not just about geography — they are deeply tied to the economics of network deployment, where cost becomes the biggest barrier to connectivity.
Affordability
For many people in low- and middle-income countries, the cost of connectivity remains the single biggest barrier. A new smartphone can cost more than a family’s monthly income, and even a basic data package can consume 5–10% of household earnings — far above the international affordability benchmark of 2% set by the UN. This makes internet access a luxury rather than a necessity, reinforcing the digital divide. Even when networks are available, the economic reality means millions cannot afford to take advantage of them.
Digital literacy
Having access to a device or network is only part of the story; knowing how to use it effectively is another. Digital literacy — from understanding how to search online, to setting up an email address, to spotting scams — is still limited in many regions. Without education and awareness, people may not see the benefits of going online or may feel intimidated by technology. This lack of knowledge often prevents first-time users from taking the leap, leaving them excluded from the opportunities digital access providers.
What’s at stake?
Leaving billions offline is more than a humanitarian concern. It’s an economic bottleneck. The World Bank and ITU estimate that connecting the unconnected could add trillions to the global economy over the next decade, boosting productivity, enabling entrepreneurship, and unlocking new markets.
But more importantly, connectivity is now a
fundamental part of human development. In health, education, and even food
security, digital access increasingly determines whether communities thrive —
or fall behind.
How TechBridge is tackling the problem
At TechBridge, we believe closing the digital divide requires more than just building new towers — it requires rethinking the way we use technology itself.
That’s why our model centers on the reuse, resell, and redeployment of network infrastructure. Instead of letting valuable telecom hardware sit idle or go to waste, we give it a second life — redeploying equipment to create affordable rural connectivity networks. This circular approach lowers costs, reduces environmental impact, and accelerates deployment where it’s needed most.
On the mobile side, we’re partnering with leading companies to create a full end-to-end circular closed ecosystem. That means refurbished and affordable devices, sustainable supply chains, and bundled services that make smartphones and data plans accessible to rural families for the first time.
Together, these efforts not only connect the unconnected, but also build a model of digital inclusion that is scalable, sustainable, and environmentally responsible.
Closing the gap
The story of the next decade will be written in whether the world can bring these 2.6 billion people online. The good news is that solutions exist — from smarter infrastructure to innovative affordability models and circular technology systems like those TechBridge is pioneering.
The Internet has transformed life for billions. It’s time we made sure no one is left behind.
References
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Measuring Digital Development: Facts and Figures 2024. DataReportal/Kepios, Global Digital Insights (2024); ITU regional statistics. ITU, Rural vs. Urban Internet Use, Facts and Figures 2024. GSMA, Mobile Gender Gap Report 2023/2024. ITU & GSMA, Affordability of Mobile Services and Devices Reports.