Only Half of Rural Pakistani Adults Use Mobile Internet

Only 50% of adults in rural Pakistan use mobile internet, compared with 65% in urban areas, highlighting a persistent geographical digital divide, according to the GSMA's State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2026 report. Based on the GSMA Consumer Survey 2025, the report shows that mobile phone ownership stands at 78% among rural adults and 85% among urban adults. Mobile internet awareness is also relatively high, reaching 84% in rural areas and 87% in cities. Despite these figures, ownership of internet-enabled phones remains significantly lower in rural Pakistan. Only 46% of rural adults own an internet-enabled handset, compared with 62% of adults in urban areas. ALSO READ Starlink Clarifies Status of 4 Requirements for Pakistan Launch The gap also extends to the frequency of internet use. Around 42% of rural adults use mobile internet daily, while the proportion rises to 59% among the urban population. Only 25% of rural adults use mobile internet for at least three different activities each day, compared with 37% in urban areas. The findings indicate that access to suitable devices and the ability to use mobile internet regularly remain major challenges for Pakistan's rural population.