Bridging the Digital Divide: Aunty Beauty’s Story of Strength, Connection, and Opportunity

The key theme for this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 is ‘Accelerate Action’ – how does the world advance the strategies, resources and activity to reduce inequity for women and girls. This year, we want to focus our attention on a topic that’s very close to our heart. The disparity, for women, in the digital divide.

Over half the world still don’t have access to a smartphone, particularly in low and middle income countries where such a purchase is simply not affordable. Women are disproportionately affected by this inequality, being 15% less likely to access the mobile internet than men (and worse in Sub Sharan Africa and Asia where the gender gap in mobile internet adoption is 32%). The power of bridging this divide is also highlighted by the GSMA: closing this usage gap for women could add over $1.3 trillion in GDP in the next 5 years.

For every huge number there are countless individual and impactful stories. As we continue on this journey, on International Women’s Day we are taking time to reflect on how smartphones, and accelerating their adoption, can be a key to addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face. For many, a smartphone is more than a device; it’s a bridge to family, financial security, and empowerment both in personal and professional spheres.

Lets start by sharing some inspiring stories of the real difference being connected actually makes to the day to day lives of those that need it most. 

Introducing Aunty Beauty, a mother of two from a rural village west of Harare, Zimbabwe, who, like many others, made the difficult decision to leave her home in search of a better future.

A Journey of Sacrifice and Resilience

Political and economic challenges have driven many Zimbabweans to seek opportunities in South Africa, where work can provide the means to support families back home. Aunty Beauty’s husband was one of them, but when he decided to move on with his life, she was left to provide for her daughters alone.

With few job prospects in Zimbabwe, she made the bold decision to migrate to South Africa, where many women from neighboring countries find work as domestic helpers, nannies, or childminders. The sacrifice was immense—leaving her children behind so she could give them a better future.

The Power of a Smartphone

For Aunty Beauty, getting a smartphone wasn’t a luxury—it was a necessity. She needed a way to stay in touch with her daughters, to be part of their daily lives despite the miles between them. But like many in low-income communities, buying a smartphone outright was out of reach. The ability to purchase a device on a manageable payment plan made all the difference.

With her smartphone, Aunty Beauty can now:

• Work more effectively – She can communicate with her employer, send photos or videos, and handle responsibilities more efficiently
• Stay connected with her daughters – Given the cost of international calls, video calls, WhatsApp chats, and photos keep her involved in their lives, helping to bridge the emotional gap of being apart
• Manage her finances – She has opened a bank account, allowing her to save and send money home securely
• Shop online for essentials – She can find affordable deals on food and clothing to send back to her family
• Stay informed – From keeping up with news back home to accessing important information, she is no longer isolated from the world

“I feel connected to the world; I am no longer lost in my small shack,” she says. “Most importantly, although I miss my kids, I can see how they are growing every day. This makes me feel closer to them despite the distance separating us.”

Breaking Barriers with Smartphone Access

At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum.

Our smartphone locking technology enables financiers and mobile operators to offer secure, affordable device financing, ensuring that more people can access a smartphone without the financial burden of an upfront payment. 

Our recent research of smartphone ownership across Africa shows that access to credit, usually for the first time, is enabling more people to get connected. In a market where affordability remains the biggest barrier to purchase, the research shows that the Average Selling Price (ASP) of all entry level devices rose by 57%, from $70 in 2023 to $110 in 2024.

Through finance schemes people are in general migrating from a “talk and text” feature phone to a smartphone. Alternatively they are jumping straight to an affordable smartphone for their first device purchase, bypassing talk and text feature phones entirely. 

Proportionately more of these devices were taken by women in 2024 (60%) an encouraging movement to close the gender gap. According to the GSMA, in Sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for a quarter of the unconnected population worldwide, an entry-level device costs 99% of average monthly income for the poorest 20%. For women in low and middle income countries, the cost of an entry-level, internet-enabled handset is 24% of monthly income, compared to 12% for men.

As Aunty Beauty says: “With my smartphone I also get to do my internet banking – I opened a bank account to save money for the kids. I also shop online for clothing items and food on special to send back home.” Through one device she is now part of the digital economy and more economically empowered to make informed decisions and build a better future for herself and her family.

A Future of Possibilities

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the resilience of women like Aunty Beauty—those who navigate hardship with strength and determination. Connectivity isn’t just about technology; it’s about empowerment, inclusion, and opportunity.

By working with our partners, we’re not just enabling smartphone ownership—we’re unlocking potential. One device, one payment plan, one connection at a time.