Access is Not Enough : How Smartphone Ownership Shapes Digital Services Use in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Overview & Synopsis

Access to smartphones significantly shapes digital service use in low- and middle-income countries, but access alone is insufficient for inclusion. Using data from 71 countries, the study finds that smartphone ownership increases the likelihood of using digital services such as learning, government services, and job search by 34 percentage points. Expanding ownership could connect millions more, especially in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. However, gender gaps persist due to barriers like affordability, digital skills, and social norms. Even with universal ownership, many women remain excluded. Effective digital inclusion requires complementary policies addressing skills, affordability, and gender-specific constraints alongside device access.