## Internet Adoption Trends during COVID-19

_IMF Notes, March 31, 2023_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Internet Adoption Trends during COVID-19](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/imf-notes/issues/2023/03/31/internet-adoption-trends-during-covid-19-531506)

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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: David Amaglobeli, Mengfei Gu, Mariano Moszoro, Yue Zhou, Patricia L Escalante
- Published: March 31, 2023
- Series: IMF Notes
- Pages: 9
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400238857.068

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### Overview and Authors
- Title: Internet Adoption Trends during COVID-19
- Authors: David Amaglobeli, Mengfei Gu, Mariano Moszoro, Yue Zhou, Patricia L Escalante
- Publication date: March 31, 2023
- Series: IMF Notes No 2023/001
- Issue: 001
- Volume: 2023
- Pages: 9
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400238857.068
- ISBN: 9798400238857
- ISSN: 2957-4390

### Key Findings on Internet Adoption
- The paper examines the common perception that internet adoption accelerated globally during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Data show little evidence of a faster expansion of access to internet (extensive margin) across all country income groups.
- Data show strong evidence of acceleration in the improvement in the quality of connectivity (intensive margin).
- Despite a decline in internet prices over the past decade, affordability of digital services remains a concern for low-income developing countries.

### Data and Evidence Emphasis
- Extensive margin (access to internet): little evidence of faster expansion across all country income groups during COVID-19.
- Intensive margin (quality of connectivity): strong evidence of acceleration in improvement during COVID-19.
- Price trends: decline in internet prices over the past decade is documented, but affordability issues persist for low-income developing countries.

### Subject and Keywords
- Subject: Economic sectors, Technology
- Keywords: COVID-19, digitalization, Internet

### Citation and Access Notes
- Format example provided: Chicago citation in the source includes an accessed date of 9/5/2026.
- The paper is available through the IMF eLibrary and a PDF download option is indicated on the landing page.

*Source: Internet Adoption Trends during COVID-19, IMF Notes (March 31, 2023).*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/imf-notes/issues/2023/03/31/internet-adoption-trends-during-covid-19-531506_