The shortage of memory chips, fueled by the artificial intelligence boom, hinders efforts to expand internet access worldwide, the director general of the GSMA, the global association of telecoms operators, told AFP.
According to the United Nations, around 2.2 billion people, nearly a quarter of the global population, were still not connected to the internet in 2025.
Yet, only 4% of the global population lives in completely uncovered mobile black spots, according to GSMA figures, which represent over 1,000 operators and companies in the sector.
For its CEO Vivek Badrinath, the surge in smartphone prices caused by the global memory chip shortage deals a “heavy blow” to bridging this gap.
“The situation is very tense” and “many manufacturers have reduced their efforts on entry-level devices,” he said in an interview before an event in Tokyo by his organization Wednesday.
“The risk is that there will be fewer entry-level devices available, which will be particularly detrimental in Africa,” he elaborated.
The acceleration of data center construction dedicated to AI has skyrocketed orders for high-bandwidth memory chips, essential for systems to handle vast amounts of information.
Chip manufacturers, favoring the more lucrative AI sector, are reducing the production of more traditional components used in consumer electronics, such as smartphones and laptops, leading to a rise in the prices of these devices.
Chey Tae-won, president of the South Korean conglomerate including chip giant SK Hynix, told journalists at a technology conference in San Jose in March that this shortage is likely to persist until 2030.
If each individual could access the internet via their mobile phone, the global gross domestic product (GDP) could increase by $3.5 trillion by the end of the decade, with digital tools and information access boosting business profitability, according to GSMA.
Satellites?
The organization claims to be “engaging with all stakeholders in the sector” to address the issue, particularly by lobbying policymakers to reduce taxes or facilitate funding, encouraging smartphone recycling, Mr. Badrinath explained.
Meanwhile, the rapid expansion of low-earth orbit communication networks promises to offer connectivity near globally in the long term.
The American giant Amazon announced on Tuesday its intention to acquire satellite operator Globalstar, a step closer to “internet from space”.
The operation confirms Amazon’s determination to position itself as a major player in satellite telecommunications, despite the group falling behind the colossal means of Starlink. The brand of SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, is currently leading the race virtually on its own.
Despite these major advances, most users will only use the satellite “occasionally,” Vivek Badrinath estimates.
“Most of the time, you will still be at home, connected to Wi-Fi or outdoors, on your mobile network. And the satellite doesn’t work very well indoors.”
The director general of GSMA also emphasized the need for satellite companies offering cross-border services to comply with the current regulatory frameworks for regular mobile internet.
“It is crucial for policymakers to define policies ensuring that rules on privacy or illegal interceptions are also respected by satellite operators. This is something we are working on with them,” he concluded.
