Many mobile phone owners struggle with expenses and connections % of mobile phone owners who say they ffequently/occasionally
At the same time, the new findings show that mobile divides even exist for phone owners. Significant numbers of owners struggle to use their phones to full advantage. A median of 46% in these countries say they frequently or occasionally have difficulties getting reliable phone connections, 37% say it can be a challenge to pay for their phones and 33% report finding places to charge their phones is a problem at least occasionally. In addition, a median of 42% report frequently or occasionally avoiding some activities on their phones because they use too much data.
In some countries, mobile owners’ problems are particularly striking. In Lebanon, for example, 77% of phone owners report having problems getting reliable mobile connections, and about two-thirds (66%) say they avoid doing things with their phones because those activities use too much data. In Jordan, nearly half (48%) report having trouble paying for their phone, while in Tunisia four-in-ten (40%) say it can be a challenge to find places to recharge their phones.
Many mobile phone owners struggle with expenses and connections  | % of mobile phone owners who say they ffequently/occasionally  | Have problems  | Avoid doing things  | Have trouble  | Have trouble finding  | getting a reliable  | because they use too  | paying for their  | a place to charge  | mobile signal  | much data  | their phone battery  | phone use  | Lebanon  | 77%  | 66%  | 43%  | 39%  | Tunisia  | 58  | 40  | 39  | 40  | 54  | Jordan  | 43  | 48  | 27  | Philippines  | 53  | 43  | 26  | 33  | Venezuela  | 51  | 45  | 44  | 34  | Colombia  | 46  | 42  | 32  | 37  | South Africa  | 44  | 50  | 37  | 25  | Vietnam  | 40  | 39  | 30  | 33  | India  | 39  | 29  | 33  | 30  | Kenya  | 38  | 43  | 41  | 29  | Mexico  | 35  | 40  | 27  | 28  | MEDIAN  | 46  | 42  | 37  | 33  | Source: Mobile Technology and Its Social Impact Survey 2018. Q21a, b,d,  | "Mobile Divides in Emerging Economies"  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 