Slow internet speeds have emerged as the biggest barrier preventing rural Pakistani users from increasing their mobile internet usage, according to the GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2026 report.
The report shows that 20 per cent of rural mobile internet users identified slow connection speeds as the single most important obstacle to using mobile internet more frequently. Among urban users, the figure stood at 14 per cent.
Connectivity experience ranked as the leading overall barrier to greater mobile internet use among rural Pakistanis. Safety and security concerns ranked second, while literacy and digital skills were identified as the third major constraint.
The pattern was different among urban users. Literacy and digital skills were the leading barrier to increased mobile internet usage, followed by safety and security concerns and connectivity experience.
A lack of confidence in using mobile internet was cited by 16 per cent of both urban and rural users.
The findings indicate that expanding mobile broadband coverage alone may not be sufficient to increase internet use in rural Pakistan.
Improvements in connection speed, service quality, digital skills, and online safety will also be required to encourage more extensive use of mobile internet.
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