By the end of 2022, over 5.4 billion people globally subscribed to a mobile service, including 4.4 billion people who also used the mobile internet. The mobile internet usage gap has narrowed markedly in the last five years, but still remains significant and demands urgent attention from all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, mobile technologies and services generated 5% of global GDP in 2022, a contribution that amounted to $5.2 trillion of economic value added, and supported 28 million jobs across the wider mobile ecosystem.
In addition to a range of technology, socioeconomic and financial datasets, including forecasts out to 2030, the Mobile Economy 2023 examines key trends across the mobile industry: the 5G monetisation imperative; the rise of private wireless networks; the shift to a circular economy; building momentum for the metaverse; and opportunities in fintech. Additionally, it explores the mobile industry’s impact on the SDGs, digital inclusion and climate technology. Finally, the research discusses key industry enablers, including policies for growth and innovation, and effective spectrum policy.
Key milestones for the mobile industry to 2030
2023:
- 1.5 billion 5G connections
- 60% 4G adoption
- 8.5 billion mobile connections
2024:
- 70% mobile penetration
- 20% 5G adoption
- 7 billion smartphone connections
2025:
- 5 billion mobile internet users
- 9 billion mobile connections
- 60% mobile internet penetration
2026:
- 3 billion 5G connections
- 30% 5G adoption
- 7.5 billion smartphone connections
2027:
- 8 billion smartphone connections
- 4G adoption falls below 50%
- 6 billion unique mobile subscribers
2028:
- 4 billion 5G connections
- 3G adoption falls below 10%
- 40% 5G adoption
2029:
- 5G adoption overtakes 4G
- 90% smartphone adoption
- 9.5 billion mobile connections
2030:
- 5 billion 5G connections
- 5G adoption surpasses 50%
- 4G adoption falls below 40
Download the full report:
https://data.gsmaintelligence.com/research/research/research-2023/the-mobile-economy-2023
