Operators have five routes to monetise the future metaverse

This report is available to those subscribed to the IoT & Enterprise module.
The metaverse, which still lacks a universal definition, is in its infancy, but the pace of developments and announcements has accelerated in the last 12 months. Despite the scepticism from some companies or investors on the metaverse in general and specifically on how the business case will play out (investments versus returns), the space will continue to capture interest in 2023 and beyond. While tech giants such as Meta, Microsoft and Google are getting more attention, a range of operators are also making inroads into the metaverse. These include SK Telecom, NTT Docomo, Deutsche Telekom, e&, Singtel, Verizon and Telefónica. In this report, we provide insights into what operators think of the metaverse opportunity and identify the possible monetisation routes.
Related research
Operators’ enterprise strategies and plans: survey insights reveal shifting trends in 2025 and beyond
This report summarises the key findings from the latest GSMA Intelligence Operators in Focus: Enterprise Opportunity Survey, conducted in December 2024, which surveyed 100 global operators on their enterprise strategies and plans, as well as emerging opportunities. Key topics include operators’ strategic priorities, partnerships, acquisitions and investment in enterprise services such as cloud, security and connectivity, along with 5G offerings such as private 5G, IoT, edge computing and network slicing.
Operators in Focus: Enterprise Opportunity Survey Dashboard 2025
This dashboard presents the latest findings of the GSMA Intelligence Operators in Focus: Enterprise Opportunity Survey. The survey asked 100 operators globally about their enterprise strategies, including how they are carrying out their plans and how they assess emerging opportunities.
Extended reality: developing a successful B2C strategy requires work in five important areas
Extended reality (XR) technology, which comprises augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality, has been around for a while, but it still suffers from a low adoption rate. Only 5% of consumers on average own an XR headset, according to the latest GSMA Intelligence consumer survey, conducted across 12 major mobile markets worldwide. In this report, we discuss the five key areas that XR companies need to focus on for developing a successful consumer strategy, which include identifying the prime consumer segments to target and widening consumer access to XR experiences.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
Operators’ enterprise strategies and plans: survey insights reveal shifting trends in 2025 and beyond
This report summarises the key findings from the latest GSMA Intelligence Operators in Focus: Enterprise Opportunity Survey, conducted in December 2024, which surveyed 100 global operators on their enterprise strategies and plans, as well as emerging opportunities. Key topics include operators’ strategic priorities, partnerships, acquisitions and investment in enterprise services such as cloud, security and connectivity, along with 5G offerings such as private 5G, IoT, edge computing and network slicing.
Operators in Focus: Enterprise Opportunity Survey Dashboard 2025
This dashboard presents the latest findings of the GSMA Intelligence Operators in Focus: Enterprise Opportunity Survey. The survey asked 100 operators globally about their enterprise strategies, including how they are carrying out their plans and how they assess emerging opportunities.
Extended reality: developing a successful B2C strategy requires work in five important areas
Extended reality (XR) technology, which comprises augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality, has been around for a while, but it still suffers from a low adoption rate. Only 5% of consumers on average own an XR headset, according to the latest GSMA Intelligence consumer survey, conducted across 12 major mobile markets worldwide. In this report, we discuss the five key areas that XR companies need to focus on for developing a successful consumer strategy, which include identifying the prime consumer segments to target and widening consumer access to XR experiences.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics