Broadband Genie, a British independent home broadband comparison service, researched mobile connectivity accessibility in 179 countries worldwide. They surveyed 70,806 individuals and compared the monthly tariff plan for mobile connectivity, including over 10 GB of mobile data, with the average salary.
• Worldwide, people spend 4.09% of their salary on a mobile phone plan with 10GB+ of data.
• The average spend on a mobile phone plan with 10GB+ of data is USD 24.20.
• People typically spend more of their salary on mobile data, than on a high-speed internet connection (3.81%).
• European and Asian countries take up the majority of places in the top 20. These continents have a greater purchasing power because of higher wages and reasonable tariff prices.
• Europe has the most affordable mobile data in the world, spending 1.37% of an average salary on a data SIM plan. Followed by Asia, typically spending 3.21% of an average salary on a phone contract with mobile broadband included.
• Lesotho (18th) and Honduras (19th) are the only countries in the top 20 outside of Asia and Europe.
• G7 countries (developed economies): All of G7, United Kingdom (5th), Germany (13th), Italy (20th), United States (35th), Japan (41st), France (44th) and Canada (62nd) have mobile data more affordable than the global average.
• BRICS nations (emerging markets): South Africa squeezes into the top half for mobile affordability (89th). Brazil (128th) is the only emerging market country outside the top half. Remaining BRICS nations; India finished 11th, Russia 26th and China 51st.
Countries with the most accessible mobile connectivity
The top five include: Singapore (0.35% of income), Luxembourg (0.40%), Israel (0.47%), Iceland (0.51%), and the United Kingdom (0.52%).
Countries with the least accessible mobile connectivity
The bottom five include: Guinea (56.29% of income), Zambia (30.29%), Ivory Coast (23.20%), Syria (22.11%), and Papua New Guinea (21.81%).
Eastern Europe
The region is the fourth cheapest for mobile plans. Six countries (Poland, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus) all have average data plans under USD 10.00. But because of lower wages than other parts of Europe, Poland also is the only country in the region in the top ten for affordability.
• Mobile data as a percentage of salary: 1.65%
• Average phone plan cost: USD 14.95
• Countries tested: 10
• Total tariffs measured: 7,538
