Billions of people around the world are kept offline by the cost to connect. Our 2019 Affordability Report finds that consolidated broadband markets are keeping prices high and putting life-changing internet access out of reach for hundreds of millions of people. Each year, our Affordability Report analyses the policy progress low- and middle-income countries are making to advance affordable internet. This year’s report points to a lack of market competition in broadband markets as a major barrier to internet access. Our research finds that people living in countries with consolidated broadband markets pay USD $3.42 more per GB of mobile data than those in similar countries with competitive markets. Around 900 million people currently live in countries where the cost of internet access is kept high by consolidated markets.