ITU Finds Two Billion People Remain Offline as AI Economy Expands

The global digital divide is now less about network footprints alone than the affordability and usefulness of access.

The digital economy has passed another milestone: an estimated 6.3 billion people are using the Internet in 2026. Yet two billion remain offline, according to the International Telecommunication Union, exposing a gap between network expansion and meaningful participation in the technology economy.

The ITU’s Facts and Figures 2026, published November 3, puts global Internet use at 76% of the population, up from 74% in 2025. Usage reaches 93% in high-income economies but only 32% in low-income countries. The disparity matters as artificial intelligence, banking and public services become more dependent on reliable connectivity.

The network is not enough

An estimated 97% of people live within reach of at least a 3G mobile network. Coverage is a technical measure, however, not evidence that households can afford data plans, own capable devices or use online services effectively.

The divide is sharper for newer infrastructure. ITU estimates 5G coverage at 59% worldwide, compared with 86% in high-income countries and just 4% in low-income countries. As cloud services and more demanding applications develop, the differences may influence where investors build capacity and where businesses can compete.

Mobile ownership does not guarantee access either. Globally, 84% of people aged ten and older own a phone, but ownership reaches only 57% in low-income economies. Many users must manage limited data, unstable power and low digital literacy.

Affordability and use

The median price of a mobile broadband basket has fallen to 1.2% of gross national income per capita, according to ITU. That benchmark does not describe what the poorest families actually pay relative to household budgets. A nominally affordable service can remain out of reach where incomes vary widely.

Data consumption offers another perspective. Monthly mobile broadband traffic per subscription averages 20 gigabytes in high-income countries, nearly six times the 3.4 gigabytes reported in low-income economies. The contrast suggests different opportunities to learn, work and participate in digital markets.

Investors face uneven economics. Rural networks can have higher deployment costs and smaller customer bases, making infrastructure sharing, competitive access and targeted subsidies important. Governments also need to consider electricity, device affordability and relevant local-language services.

The economic stakes

Technology adoption requires more than connectivity. Firms need trained workers, secure payments and dependable institutions before digital investment translates into productivity. Public agencies need systems that actually work for citizens who have intermittent access.

For education, online learning tools cannot substitute for reliable devices and instruction. For small businesses, an Internet connection may open a market but cannot resolve transport costs, payment restrictions or weak customer demand.

Counting productive participation

A better connectivity scorecard would measure whether users can access useful services at reasonable cost, and whether coverage gains narrow differences by income, geography and gender.

The ITU’s latest figures show genuine expansion, but they also challenge a common assumption about technological progress. Building networks is only the first stage; bringing two billion excluded people into the online economy will require affordability and practical utility alongside coverage.

For governments, publishing separate measures of affordability, actual usage and service reliability can help prevent overstating progress. Independent surveys can reveal whether households have stopped using mobile data because of price, poor coverage indoors or a lack of suitable devices. Better statistics make it easier to direct investment where its social and economic returns will be greatest.