The Cost of Mobile Internet in Asia

Asian nations made up a third of the world’s top 20 cheapest countries for mobile data in 2020, led by India where an average gigabyte costs $0.17. This is according to the Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing 2022, a study by UK-based price comparison website Cable.co.uk which compared the average cost of a gigabyte (1GB) of mobile internet from over 5,000 plans in 233 countries and territories. The following map does not include data from countries in the Near East or CIS regions.

India’s average mobile data cost for 1 GB in 2022 was among the cheapest in the world, ranking third only after Israel ($0.04) and Italy ($0.12). Nepal also features in the global top ten, with $0.27 per gigabyte. However, the region is also home to one of the costliest countries worldwide for mobile internet data - South Korea - where a gigabyte costs $12.55. Globally, South Korea ranked in 224th position. It is one of only three Asian countries or territories where mobile internet is more expensive than the global average of $3.12 - the others being Japan ($3.85) and the British Indian Ocean Territory ($5.00).

May 17 marks World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. The UN-dedicated day is intended to raise global awareness about the importance of online connectivity both to societies and economies, as well as to bridge the digital divide.