Key Highlights:
- Women in Bangladesh trail behind men in both mobile ownership and mobile internet adoption, with gender gaps of 20% and 40% respectively
- In Bangladesh, approximately half of women are familiar with internet usage, while ownership of mobile phones stands at 85% for men and 68% for women
- According to the Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing 2022 report by Cable.co.uk, Bangladesh ranks 12th globally for low-cost mobile data
The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), an international organization of mobile phone service providers, released the report titled ‘The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2024’ this month. The report shows that women in Bangladesh trail behind men in both mobile ownership and mobile internet adoption, with gender gaps of 20% and 40% respectively, highlighting a significant digital access disparity.
The report includes data from 12 low- and middle-income countries: Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, Uganda, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Guatemala, and Mexico. In the 2023 survey, approximately 1,000 men and women aged 18 and over were sampled in each country, except for India, where around 2,000 people were surveyed.
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According to the GSMA, Bangladesh also exhibits the largest gender gap in mobile internet service access among Asian countries at 40%. This gap compares to 30% in India, 38% in Pakistan, and 8% in Indonesia.
First introduced by the Government of Bangladesh in 2008, the vision of a ‘Digital Bangladesh’ has spread across the nation. However, policymakers worry about the widening digital gap, especially along socioeconomic lines and between genders. Despite advances in education, employment, and income equality, Bangladesh still struggles to bridge the gender disparity in digital access.
The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2024 on Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, approximately half of women are familiar with internet usage, while ownership of mobile phones stands at 85% for men and 68% for women. This indicates a narrowing gender gap in ownership, which was previously at 21% but has now reduced to around 20%.
Regarding internet usage on mobile phones, 37% of men and 24% of women in Bangladesh are reported to be active users. However, there’s a desire for increased internet usage among both genders, with 53% of women and 46% of men expressing the wish to use it more. Despite this, obstacles such as high data costs are identified by 24% of women and 15% of men as significant challenges.
In terms of online safety awareness, a majority of both men and women in Bangladesh, 74% and 65% respectively, are knowledgeable about staying safe online. Notably, women in Bangladesh have shown remarkable growth in mobile internet awareness since 2022, increasing from 64% to 74%. This progress is highlighted by the fact that for the first time, women’s awareness in Bangladesh matches that of men’s, both standing at 76%, indicating significant strides forward.
How Cost and Digital Skills Hinder Mobile Internet Adoption in Bangladesh?
For those familiar with mobile internet, the primary barriers to its adoption are affordability (especially of handsets), literacy, and digital skills. These barriers disproportionately affect women, largely because they are more likely to be offline.
According to the Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing 2022 report by Cable.co.uk, Bangladesh ranks 12th globally for low-cost mobile data. On average, one gigabyte of mobile data costs approximately Tk33 ($0.32) in Bangladesh. Within South Asia, India holds the 5th position, Nepal 10th, Sri Lanka 11th, Pakistan 13th, Bhutan 19th, Afghanistan 64th, and the Maldives 145th for affordable mobile Internet.
The report indicates that the cost of Internet in Bangladesh is higher than in countries like France, Italy, and India. Currently, mobile network operators in Bangladesh offer around 95 data packages, categorized into three types with four different time validities. However, the regulator is planning to cut this number by 50%.
Moreover, the minimum price of a handset with internet access starts from 8-9 thousand Tk, which is not affordable for most people in the country.
Other Barriers to Digital Inclusion in Bangladesh
Women experience digital literacy inclusion more intensely due to structural inequalities, such as lower levels of education and income. In many households, if there is a smartphone or laptop, it is typically controlled by male members.
Parents also restrict girls from using devices or the internet for social reasons, reflecting the male-dominated nature of society. Furthermore, many women lack the resources and training necessary for digital education or technology-related careers.
Social and cultural barriers often discourage them from pursuing these fields. Despite the increasing number of women entering the workforce, societal prejudices and the demanding work hours in tech-related fields in Bangladesh prevent them from achieving their full potential.
Recommendations
Transitioning from commitment to action is crucial because the mobile internet gender gap remains significant and won’t close by itself. Targeted actions and investments are necessary to realize these goals and hasten progress, benefiting women, their communities, and society as a whole.
Furthermore, the mobile gender gap not only mirrors existing gender inequalities but also risks worsening them. Only through the concerted effort and collaboration of various stakeholders can truly accelerate progress on this issue.
Making mobile devices and data plans more affordable can indeed encourage higher mobile usage among women. Subsidies, low-cost data packages, and affordable smartphones could be part of this effort. This can potentially lead to increased digital literacy, access to information, and economic opportunities.
As observed, education plays a crucial role in enhancing women’s digital literacy. Therefore, the government needs to continue allocating resources to women’s education. Additionally, both the government and other stakeholders should work to raise awareness among rural communities about the importance of digital literacy for everyone, regardless of gender.
