The Mobile Economy 2023

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.