Global internet access crossed 3.2 billion

Global internet access crossed 3.2 billion mark: FB study

The social networking giant's annual report called 'State of Connectivity' showed that 200 million people gained Internet access in 2015

The number of people worldwide using Internet has reached 3.2 billion at the end of 2015, a Facebook study says.

The social networking giant's second annual report called 'State of Connectivity' showed that 200 million people gained Internet access in 2015 due to more affordable data and rising global incomes, a foreign news agency has reported.

"The developed world is largely online, but the developing world is a long way behind," the report said.

"Urban areas are connected, many rural areas are not. The less money you have, the less likely you are to be online. In many countries, women use the Internet far less than men. And even if the entire world lived within range of the necessary infrastructure, nearly a billion people remain illiterate or otherwise unable to benefit from online content," the report added.

The report said improving access is a major challenge that will require the cooperation of many stakeholders through innovation and investment.