Internet adoption SEA 2025, by country

As of February 2025, in Southeast Asia, Malaysia's the internet adoption was recorded at approximately 97.7 percent. In comparison, Indonesia, the region's most populous country, had an internet adoption rate of about 74.6 percent.

Mobile connects Southeast Asians

A preference for mobile over other connected devices is widespread and continuously growing among Southeast Asian users. Users in the region typically spend a higher share of internet time using mobile devices compared to computers. This is reflected in the region’s gaming sector, where mobile gaming apps dominate Southeast Asia’s gaming market, making up the largest segment. As smartphone ownership in the region's major markets has already surpassed 90 percent, mobile devices are the most widely accessible way to go online for consumers across the region.

Mobile infrastructure varies across the region

Malaysia and Singapore boast some of the highest mobile internet penetration rates in the world, attributable to their national mobile internet infrastructures. While Southeast Asia's most populous markets, Indonesia and the Philippines, also have the largest online populations in the region, there is still room for growth due to mobile infrastructures being unable to accommodate the high user demand. However, mobile network infrastructure is developing quickly, as Indonesia's mobile internet penetration surpassed 61 percent in 2024, marking a significant increase from under 32 percent in 2020.