Device affordability has emerged as the single most critical barrier to scaling digital inclusion, CEO JazzWorld Aamir Ibrahim said during one of the high-level engagements at the IMF\u2013World Bank Spring Meetings 2026.
\nHe urged coordinated global action to address the growing gap between demand for digital services and access to affordable smartphones, said a news release.
\nSpeaking at a World Bank Digital Day roundtable on device affordability, Ibrahim underscored that while demand for digital services continues to surge, millions remain excluded due to the rising cost of entry-level smartphones. \u201cThe demand is there, the constraint is affordability. If we solve this issue with devices, we unlock digital inclusion at a large scale,\u201d he said, emphasizing that smartphones are now the primary gateway to financial services, education, and digital livelihoods.
\nParticipants highlighted that global supply-side pressures, particularly rising memory and component costs, are pushing smartphone prices upward, disproportionately impacting low-cost devices in price-sensitive markets such as Pakistan. A key concern flagged was the continued memory price pressures, which directly feeds into higher device costs at the entry level. Even marginal increases in sticker price are having a significant effect on adoption.
\n\u201cWhat we\u2019re seeing is a classic upstream shock with real downstream consequences for inclusion,\u201d Ibrahim noted, adding that affordability challenges are slowing the transition to next-generation technologies and limiting broader economic participation. The discussion reinforced that the issue extends beyond supply constraints and must be treated as a development priority. Despite strong consumer demand, Ibrahim added, affordability barriers are preventing millions from accessing digital financial services and participating in the formal economy.
\nA key area of focus was the shift from upfront affordability to monthly affordability, moving beyond sticker price barriers. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of scalable device financing models, including installment plans bundled with connectivity, as a pathway to expand access.
\nHowever, it was understood that such solutions require deeper collaboration between telecom operators, financial institutions, and device manufacturers. Enabling policy frameworks will also be essential, including rationalizing taxes on entry-level smartphones to ease sticker price pressures, strengthening credit risk models, and fostering a trusted refurbished device ecosystem.
\nThe conversation also extended to the future of work, particularly during a World Bank session on \u201cSmall AI\u201d solutions\u2014lightweight, cost-effective artificial intelligence applications designed for low-resource environments, often referred to as \u201cAI with purpose\u201d for their focus on practical, real-world impact in underserved settings. The session highlighted the potential of such technologies to drive job creation and productivity across sectors including agriculture, retail, and micro-enterprises.
\nAamir added that the success of AI in emerging markets was fundamentally tied to device access, stressing that without widespread penetration of affordable and capable smartphones, even the most impactful AI-driven solutions risked remaining out of reach. \u201cAI will only be truly transformative in emerging markets if it is accessible, practical, and deployable on the devices people actually possess,\u201d Ibrahim said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Device affordability has emerged as the single most critical barrier to scaling digital inclusion, CEO JazzWorld Aamir Ibrahim said during one of the high-level engagements at the IMF\u2013World Bank Spring Meetings 2026. He urged coordinated global action to address the growing gap between demand for digital services and access to affordable smartphones, said a news […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":542134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-542125","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n