The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators
worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators with over
350 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem,
including handset and device makers, software companies,
equipment providers and internet companies, as well as
organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also
produces the industry-leading MWC events held annually in
Barcelona, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as the Mobile
360 Series of regional conferences.
For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate
website at www.gsma
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GSMA Intelligence is the defnitive source of global mobile
operator data, analysis and forecasts, and publisher of
authoritative industry reports and research. Our data
covers every operator group, network and MVNO in every
country worldwide – from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. It is
the most accurate and complete set of industry metrics
available, comprising tens of millions of individual data
points, updated daily. GSMA Intelligence is relied on by
leading operators, vendors, regulators, fnancial institutions
and third-party industry players, to support strategic
decision-making and long-term investment planning. The
data is used as an industry reference point and is frequently
cited by the media and by the industry itself. Our team
of analysts and experts produce regular thought-leading
research reports across a range of industry topics.
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Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2
1THE MOBILE MARKET IN NUMBERS10
1.1Key milestones11
1.2Where will the next 710 million come from12
1.34G takes the lead, while 5G launches begin13
1.4Consumers transition from ‘connected’ to ‘digital’15
1.5Financial pressures continue, but outlook improving18
2MOBILE CONTRIBUTING TO ECONOMIC GROWTH
AND ADDRESSING SOCIAL CHALLENGES2.1Mobile contribution to economic growth20
2.2Expanding the benefts of the mobile internet24
2.3Mobile delivering social impact30
3KEY TRENDS SHAPING THE MOBILE INDUSTRY32
3.1The 5G era is here: where is the money33
3.2IoT: seizing a share of the trillion-dollar opportunity35
3.3Content: operators seeking to capitalise on rapidly evolving ecosystem40
3.4AI: transforming telcos43
3.5Devices: onset of a third wave focused on AI and immersive entertainment45
4POLICIES FOR DIGITAL ADVANCEMENT49
4.1Laying the regulatory groundwork50
4.2Regulatory reforms for the digital age51
Executive
Summary
The Mobile Economy 2019
Executive Summary2