Affordable Devices for All Innovative Financing Solutions and Policy Options to Bridge Global Digital Divides

Nearly 2.7 billion people globally are still offline and not using the internet. The majority (94 percent) of unconnected individuals live in low- and middle-income countries, where the cost of internet-enabled mobile devices remains a key connectivity barrier. This report aims to guide the efforts of policy makers and international financial institutions (IFIs) in promoting affordable mobile device ownership and increasing adoption and usage of broadband services, with a focus on these low-income individuals in developing countries often overlooked by previous research.