In two years, mobile internet awareness among women improves in Pakistan

GSMA findings suggest awareness increases to 70% in 2019

KARACHI: Although gender gap for mobile usage remains wide in Pakistan, mobile internet awareness in Pakistani women has increased at a fast pace in the last two years.

The numbers have almost doubled from 2017 to 2019, outperforming India, according to ‘Connected Women; The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2020’ a report by GSMA Intelligence.

In 2017, only 39% of women were aware of mobile internet, which enormously rose to 70% in just two years. In comparison, 47% men were aware of mobile internet in 2017, which also improved to 79% in 2019.

GSMA describes internet awareness as a person who is considered aware of mobile internet if they have either used mobile internet before, or have not used mobile internet but are aware they can access internet on a mobile phone.

Meanwhile, in India, around 41% men and only 19% women were aware of the internet in 2017. This improved to 71% and 50%, respectively, in two years.

In Asia, literacy, skills, affordability, relevance are common barriers. While, for men specifically, safety and security is an additional obstacle and family approval was a hurdle for women.

The report further said that changing market dynamics and price erosion have likely contributed to the reduction of the mobile internet gender gap in South Asia. The mobile industry has also taken concerted action to address the gender gap in the region, it added. GSMA carried the survey among low- and middle-income countries like Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa.

Among the countries surveyed, the widest gender gap still exists in Pakistan, where women are 38% less likely than men to own a mobile and 49% less likely to use mobile internet, according to the report. Lack of family approval was a major impediment for women in several markets, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria.

In Pakistan, 55% of men and 53% women owning mobile phones reported that it gave them access to useful information. Meanwhile, 58% women reported that it helped them in their daily tasks.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2020.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.