In short: According to GSMA Intelligence, smartphones already accounted for 80% of mobile connections in Latin America in 2024 and will reach 91% by 2030, while mobile internet will grow from 64% to 75% of the population and 5G will surpass 400 million connections. The region is undergoing an accelerated shift toward quality connectivity.
When people talk about "smartphone penetration in Latin America," it's tempting to throw out an exact figure per country, a manufacturer ranking, and a rounded average price, all with the air of hard data. The problem is that a good chunk of those numbers floating around the internet are estimates with no clear source, extrapolations from old studies, or outright made up. Here we're going to do the opposite: stick only to the data that GSMA Intelligence —the global reference body for mobile telecommunications and the research arm of the GSMA, the association that brings together mobile operators worldwide— has published in its report "The Mobile Economy Latin America," and explain what it really means for someone who lives, works, or travels through the region.
There are no tables here with the price of the latest Galaxy A in Mexican pesos or a market-share breakdown by brand: those figures, when they don't come with a specific source and date, aren't reliable. What we do have is the picture GSMA paints of where Latin American mobile connectivity is headed between now and 2030, and it's a picture with some interesting nuances.
What GSMA says about smartphone penetration in Latin America
The starting point is this: according to GSMA Intelligence, smartphones accounted for 80% of all mobile connections in the region in 2024. In other words, out of every ten active mobile lines in Latin America, eight already belong to a smartphone and only two to a basic or "feature" phone. The same source projects that share will rise to 91% by 2030.
That jump from 80% to 91% in six years isn't just a minor statistical adjustment. It means the basic handset, the one that only makes calls and sends SMS, is heading for rapid extinction in the region. And it has a direct practical takeaway for anything related to mobile data, apps, geolocation, or —what concerns us here— connectivity for travelers: it's increasingly unlikely you'll come across anyone, anywhere in Latin America, whose phone isn't compatible with the basic functions of a modern smartphone.
That said, it's worth being honest about the limits of the data: GSMA is talking about a regional average, not a country-by-country breakdown verified against public sources. Latin America isn't a homogeneous block —it ranges from economies with high per-capita income to much more constrained ones— so it's reasonable to assume there are notable differences from one country to another, even if we don't have an official, citable figure for each one.
Mobile internet in the region: the gap that's closing
GSMA's second data point goes a step beyond the device and measures something even more relevant: how many people actually use mobile internet, not just how many have a smartphone in their pocket. Here the figure is that mobile internet penetration in Latin America will reach nearly 75% of the population by 2030, up from 64% recorded in 2024.
The difference between "owning a smartphone" (80-91%) and "using mobile internet" (64-75%) is the usage gap: people who have a phone capable of connecting to data but who, due to plan costs, network coverage, or simply a lack of perceived need, don't browse regularly. It's a pattern that repeats across many developing regions and one GSMA has been documenting globally for years. What's relevant about the 2026 data is the direction: the gap is closing, not widening. Going from 64% to 75% between now and 2030 means tens of millions of people who today have the hardware but not the habit (or the budget) will join the mobile network in the coming years.
For travelers, this translates into a steady, ongoing improvement in practical coverage: more towers, more investment from local operators, more competition among them, and overall a more reliable data experience in areas that were dead zones just a few years ago.
5G is Already a Reality in More Than a Dozen Countries
The third data block from GSMA focuses on network technology, not just the device. And the message here is that 5G in Latin America has stopped being a future promise and has become deployed infrastructure: more than 30 operators in 13 countries in the region have already launched commercial 5G service. GSMA projects that 5G connections will exceed 400 million by 2030, which would be equivalent to 53% of all mobile connections in the region — meaning more than half of the mobile base running on the new network generation.
The fact that 13 countries already have commercial 5G operational, with more than 30 operators deploying it, indicates that this is not a technology limited to the capitals of two or three large economies: the rollout is fairly widespread geographically, although — to be rigorous again — GSMA does not break down here what percentage of each country's population actually has 5G coverage right now, only that the infrastructure already exists and continues to grow.
For the traveler, 5G itself is not decisive — an eSIM data plan works perfectly over 4G/LTE networks in the vast majority of destinations and uses — but it is a good indirect indicator of how much local operators are investing in their networks. The more operators competing on technology, the better the conventional data coverage your travel eSIM will use tends to be.
How Much Mobile Connectivity Is Worth to the Region's Economy
The fourth data point puts a number on the economic weight of all this. According to GSMA, in 2025 mobile technologies and services generated 600,000 million dollars of economic value in Latin America, the equivalent of 8.6% of the region's GDP. This figure positions the mobile sector not as a tech niche, but as one of the structural levers of the Latin American economy, comparable in weight to sectors traditionally considered pillars like energy or agribusiness in several countries in the region.
That 8.6% of GDP does not come only from selling devices or operator plans: GSMA includes in its methodology the indirect and induced effects — e-commerce that depends on mobile connectivity, digital banking, logistics coordinated by app, tourism organized and paid for from the phone — in addition to the productivity gains brought by digitalization. In short, it is proof that mobile connectivity in Latin America is no longer a support infrastructure: it is an economic engine in its own right.
The Four GSMA Data Points at a Glance
| Indicator | Data | Horizon | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphones as a share of total mobile connections | 80% (2024) → 91% (2030) | 2024-2030 | GSMA Intelligence, The Mobile Economy Latin America |
| Mobile internet penetration as a share of population | 64% (2024) → ~75% (2030) | 2024-2030 | GSMA Intelligence |
| Projected 5G connections | More than 400 million (53% of total); more than 30 operators in 13 countries already with commercial 5G | 2030 horizon | GSMA Intelligence |
| Economic value generated by mobile technologies and services | 600,000 million USD (8.6% of regional GDP) | 2025 | GSMA Intelligence |
Two speeds, one trend
What you see when you put the two bars side by side is that hardware is moving a bit faster than actual data usage. It makes sense: buying or inheriting a smartphone is a one-time decision, while becoming a regular mobile internet user depends on factors that take longer to change — the price of local data plans, digital literacy, and the availability of relevant content and services in each user's language and context. Both curves, however, point upward with no signs of slowing down.
What This Means for You When Traveling to Latin America
All this GSMA data has a very practical takeaway if your interest is not academic but you're planning a trip. These are the practical conclusions:
Basic connectivity is no longer the problem it once was. With 80% of the regional mobile fleet already being smartphones in 2024 (and rising), and with more than 30 operators deploying 5G in 13 countries, the infrastructure behind any travel eSIM is in a period of sustained investment. This doesn't guarantee perfect coverage in every corner —rural or mountain areas will still be a challenge in any country in the world— but the general trend works in your favor.
Understanding what an eSIM is saves you surprises before you travel. If you've never used one, it's worth starting with the basics: what is an eSIM and how does it work explains the technology without technical jargon, and how to install an eSIM step by step walks you through the process, which usually takes just a few minutes if your phone is compatible.
Comparing eSIM with traditional roaming will save you money. Roaming from your home carrier is still, in most cases, the most expensive option for connecting outside your country. It's worth understanding what data roaming is and directly comparing eSIM vs. traditional roaming before activating anything when you land at the airport.
If your route doesn't stay only in Latin America, plan the rest of your itinerary too. PuraSIM covers more than 200 destinations, so if after your Latin American stopover you're heading to the United States you can check out eSIM for the United States, and if you return to Spain, eSIM for Spain will keep you from relying on airport Wi-Fi as soon as you land.
If you're a digital nomad, this trend benefits you doubly. With mobile internet penetration rising from 64% to 75% of the population and 5G expanding, working remotely from Latin American cities is increasingly viable. This eSIM guide for digital nomads goes deeper into how to organize connectivity when the trip lasts months, not days.
Compare prices before deciding, not just destinations. The cost of an eSIM varies a lot depending on the destination and the data volume you need; this eSIM price ranking by destination gives you a quick reference so you don't overpay. And if you're interested in the broader industry context, the global eSIM market growth statistics put the Latin American data in worldwide perspective.
And if something fails during the trip —an activation that doesn't complete, a question about how much data you have left— PuraSIM offers 24/7 support by email and WhatsApp, so you don't need to find Wi-Fi to resolve an issue.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of mobile connections in Latin America are already smartphones?
According to GSMA Intelligence, 80% of mobile connections in the region were smartphones in 2024, and that figure is projected to reach 91% by 2030.
How many people use mobile internet in Latin America?
GSMA puts mobile internet penetration at 64% of the population in 2024, with a projected growth to nearly 75% by 2030.
Is 5G widespread in Latin America?
Yes, and increasingly so: more than 30 operators in 13 countries in the region have already launched commercial 5G service, according to GSMA data, which projects over 400 million 5G connections by 2030 (53% of the total).
How much economic value does the mobile sector generate in the region?
GSMA calculates that mobile technologies and services generated 600,000 million dollars of economic value in Latin America in 2025, equivalent to 8.6% of the region's GDP.
Do I need 5G for a travel eSIM to work well?
No. A travel data eSIM works perfectly on a 4G/LTE network, which remains the backbone of coverage in the vast majority of Latin American areas. 5G is an extra improvement, not a requirement.
How many destinations in Latin America can I use a PuraSIM eSIM?
PuraSIM covers more than 200 destinations worldwide, with 24/7 support by email and WhatsApp to resolve any activation questions before or during your trip.
Where exactly do these figures come from?
All data in this article comes from the report "The Mobile Economy Latin America" by GSMA Intelligence, the research arm of GSMA, the global association that brings together mobile operators. No figures from other sources or own estimates have been used.
