[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"question:63:en-US":3},{"metadata":4,"sys":15,"fields":35},{"tags":5,"concepts":14},[6,11],{"sys":7},{"type":8,"linkType":9,"id":10},"Link","Tag","global",{"sys":12},{"type":8,"linkType":9,"id":13},"industry",[],{"space":16,"id":20,"type":21,"createdAt":22,"updatedAt":23,"environment":24,"publishedVersion":28,"revision":29,"contentType":30,"locale":34},{"sys":17},{"type":8,"linkType":18,"id":19},"Space","ghhpjogyw4x7","a2228aad4c60dcca53729090e84e2957","Entry","2021-11-11T07:08:29.029Z","2025-09-30T07:09:43.035Z",{"sys":25},{"id":26,"type":8,"linkType":27},"master","Environment",78,25,{"sys":31},{"type":8,"linkType":32,"id":33},"ContentType","question","en-US",{"globalId":36,"answers":37,"answersAsImages":57,"wrongPercentage":96,"name":97,"questionText":98,"statistics":99,"veryWrongStatistics":101,"correctSentence":103,"youWereWrong":104,"youWereRight":105,"dataSourceShortText":106,"dataSourceLinkLongText":107,"extendedAnswerText":108,"headingVeryWrong":109,"youWereVeryWrong":110,"headingWrong":109},"63",[38,60,79],{"metadata":39,"sys":42,"fields":55},{"tags":40,"concepts":41},[],[],{"space":43,"id":45,"type":21,"createdAt":46,"updatedAt":47,"environment":48,"publishedVersion":50,"revision":51,"contentType":52,"locale":34},{"sys":44},{"type":8,"linkType":18,"id":19},"0eb6b52f956668210a76072691f51e60","2021-11-11T06:54:33.902Z","2025-09-30T07:02:21.877Z",{"sys":49},{"id":26,"type":8,"linkType":27},21,16,{"sys":53},{"type":8,"linkType":32,"id":54},"answer",{"globalId":56,"correctAnswer":57,"isVeryWrong":58,"answerText":59},"63-a1",false,true,"Around 45%",{"metadata":61,"sys":64,"fields":76},{"tags":62,"concepts":63},[],[],{"space":65,"id":67,"type":21,"createdAt":68,"updatedAt":69,"environment":70,"publishedVersion":72,"revision":73,"contentType":74,"locale":34},{"sys":66},{"type":8,"linkType":18,"id":19},"248771b48ce3011788997e19b359e1d0","2021-11-11T06:54:35.542Z","2023-09-28T14:47:53.445Z",{"sys":71},{"id":26,"type":8,"linkType":27},19,15,{"sys":75},{"type":8,"linkType":32,"id":54},{"globalId":77,"correctAnswer":57,"isVeryWrong":57,"answerText":78},"63-a2","Around 65%",{"metadata":80,"sys":83,"fields":93},{"tags":81,"concepts":82},[],[],{"space":84,"id":86,"type":21,"createdAt":87,"updatedAt":88,"environment":89,"publishedVersion":50,"revision":51,"contentType":91,"locale":34},{"sys":85},{"type":8,"linkType":18,"id":19},"fff2c3165f876a8151462f5af32f790a","2021-11-11T06:54:38.223Z","2025-09-30T07:02:37.118Z",{"sys":90},{"id":26,"type":8,"linkType":27},{"sys":92},{"type":8,"linkType":32,"id":54},{"globalId":94,"correctAnswer":58,"isVeryWrong":57,"answerText":95},"63-a3","Around 95%",74,"How many people in the world live within range of ","How many people in the world live within range of a 3G or higher quality mobile network?",[100],"uk 0.74",[102],"uk 0.28","Worldwide, around 95% of people live within range of a 3G or higher quality mobile network, (but only around 70% are connected).","3G networks cover the areas where 95% of people live, but only around 70% of people are connected. Tech infrastructure has reached most parts of the inhabitable world, but not all people.","They might know that only around 70% the world's population use the Internet, and therefore they assume there’s no 3G in these areas.","Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)","The data is looking at the percentage of the world population who live within reach of a mobile broadband (or Internet) service, 3G or higher quality. That figure is 96%. Another 2% have access to a non-broadband mobile cellular signal. This means that only 2% of the world's population live in areas without any cell phone coverage. The data comes from the International Telecommunication Union, and is compiled using several different methodologies depending on the country. In some countries, when survey data does not exist, modelling or expert opinion is used, providing estimates that are usually less robust compared to survey data. When we compare the ITU figures with other sources like GSMA[2], they are very much the same (90%+).We also consulted three independent experts who recognized the ITU as the best source for this data and one they trust and use in their own work.\nOf the total world population, approximately 70% have a cell phone, according to GSMA[3] and 68% of people were connected to the Internet in 2024, according to ITU.\n\n[1]  [ITU - Mobile population coverage by type of network, 2015-2024](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.itu.int\u002Fitu-d\u002Freports\u002Fstatistics\u002F2024\u002F11\u002F10\u002Fff24-mobile-network-coverage\u002F)  \n[2]  [GSMA Intelligence - The Mobile Economy 2025](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gsma.com\u002Fsolutions-and-impact\u002Fconnectivity-for-good\u002Fmobile-economy\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F04\u002F030325-The-Mobile-Economy-2025.pdf)\n[3]  [ITU - Individuals using the Internet](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.itu.int\u002Fen\u002FITU-D\u002FStatistics\u002FPages\u002Fstat\u002Fdefault.aspx) \n[4]  We consulted three independent experts for this question, including  Dhanaraj Thakur of the Center For Democracy and Technology.","\nIt’s easy to think of the world as divided in two, and we hear a lot about the digital divide. Huge inequalities certainly exist between people who are connected and those who are not, but globally it’s not a clear divide. Most of the people who are excluded from modern tech often live painfully close to those who have access.\n\nHaving a network nearby is not everything – you also need to be able to afford to use it. A lot of people haven’t even started using the Internet, and typically more women than men are not online.\n\n### Why is it a problem that people are wrong about this?\nIf we think the problem is a lack of access we might think we are many years away from creating the infrastructure to connect everyone to the Internet. The reality is, that the infrastructure is already in place almost everywhere but many still don’t use the Internet because of a lack of skills and affordability. Those things are easier to fix.\n\n### Why are people wrong about this?\nThey think technology hasn’t yet reached low-income countries. In fact, it often has, but digital skills and affordability is still a blocker for the people most in need.\n\n### Can I trust this data?\nYes. It comes from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies. Their figure is similar to the figure that we find from other sources (90%+). We also consulted three independent experts who recognized the ITU as the best source for this data and one they trust and use in their own work.\n","Covered, not connected","3G networks already cover most areas where people live, but don’t reach all people."]