<div dir="ltr"><span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">The Mobile Economy-Latin America report by </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/gsma/" style="box-sizing:inherit;font-size:14px;word-break:normal;font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;line-height:inherit">GSMA</a><span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"> is out. Some of the key findings include:</span><br style="box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:inherit"><span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">1. At the end of 2021, 60% (approximately 380 million people) of the population in Latin America was using mobile </span>broadband services<span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">.</span><br style="box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:inherit"><span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">2. 36% of the population live within mobile broadband network coverage areas, but do not use mobile internet services (36% usage gap).</span><div>The mobile usage gap is estimated at 61% in Africa according to GSMA, see <a href="https://www.connectingafrica.com/author.asp?section_id=761&doc_id=781406#:~:text=%22In%20Africa%2017%25%20is%20the,mobile%20Internet%2C%22%20he%20added.">here</a>. The reasons behind usage gaps do not differ much from one region to another.<br style="box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:inherit"><span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">There are a number of assumptions that can be made to explain the mobile broadband </span>usage gap<span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">. Bearing in mind that </span>smartphones<span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"> are the main access modes to broadband services, the aspect of this population using other alternative broadband services may not be the reason. This is because even when using other broadband services such as fixed wireless (WiFi), you will, at some point, use the mobile broadband services, provided you have a smartphone.</span><br style="box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:inherit"><span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">In my opinion, the </span>affordability<span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"> of services and devices together with digital skills</span><span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"> are the main causes of the usage gap</span><span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">. These people living within </span>coverage<span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"> areas and not using the services are either not able to afford the services and devices, or simply do not possess the basic knowledge and digital skills</span><span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"> needed to use the services. We have a long way to go in addressing </span>affordability<span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">, especially in the mobile services</span><span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"> industry. It is high time governments become intentional in ensuring that people have access to affordable devices (for instance through tax-free/low </span>tax<span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"> for the importation of such devices), as well as access to </span>affordable<span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"> broadband services</span><span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">.</span><br style="box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:inherit">Community networks<span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"> are proving to be one way of getting affordable broadband services to the marginalized low-income population. More support is needed to ensure that </span>community networks<span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"> are empowered to deliver low-cost </span>connectivity<span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px"> solutions to help bridge the </span>digital divide<span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.9);font-family:-apple-system,system-ui,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,"Helvetica Neue","Fira Sans",Ubuntu,Oxygen,"Oxygen Sans",Cantarell,"Droid Sans","Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol","Lucida Grande",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">. Digital upskilling, in equal measure, is required, especially in marginalized communities. Extending connectivity services to people who cannot afford the services, or do not have the skills to use the services would simply amount to a wasted investment.</span></div><div><font color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" face="-apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Fira Sans, Ubuntu, Oxygen, Oxygen Sans, Cantarell, Droid Sans, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Symbol, Lucida Grande, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><br clear="all"></span></font><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font face="georgia, serif"><span></span><a href="http:///" target="_blank"></a><span></span>Kisundu Nicholas N,</font></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;text-align:center">Digital Inclusion| ICT Policy,</span><div><font face="georgia, serif">+254712770655</font></div><div><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="georgia, serif"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-kisundu-28933482/" target="_blank">LinkedIn Profile<br></a></font></div><div><span></span><a href="http:///" target="_blank"></a><span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>