The socio-economic benefits of mid-band 5G services
Download the Report
Complete the form below to get instant access to this report. For easier access in the future, you can register for a free account here.
Please sign in or register for a free public account to access this report.
In 2030, 5G is forecast to generate a global GDP contribution of $960 billion. Mid-band spectrum will drive an increase of more than $610 billion, accounting for almost 65% of the overall socio-economic value generated by 5G. However, up to 40% of the expected benefits of mid-band 5G could be lost if no additional mid-band spectrum is assigned to mobile services.
This study by GSMA Intelligence outlines how, with the right regulatory tools, 5G can become a central pillar of economic development strategies worldwide. The analysis shows how the benefits of 5G to sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing and public administration can start a new wave of economic growth. It estimates, at the global and regional levels, the socio-economic benefits that can be delivered through sufficient mid-band spectrum assignments.
Related research
The impact of spectrum pricing in Bangladesh
At around 16%, Bangladesh’s spectrum-cost-to-revenue ratio exceeds the Asia Pacific median (10.4%) and is twice as high as the global median (7.7%). High spectrum cost has been shown to negatively impact consumer outcomes, such as network coverage and speeds. Reducing prices by 50% would align spectrum costs closer to the Asia Pacific median at about 12% by 2035, boosting 4G speeds by 17% and enabling 99% 5G coverage, yielding a cumulative $34 billion GDP boost. Aligning costs to the global median of 8% of operators’ revenue would increase 4G speeds by 22% and accelerate 5G rollout further, generating a $45 billion GDP boost.
Network Sunsets, Q2 2025
This quarterly series leverages GSMA Intelligence data on network sunsets to identify the key trends and understand the future. The report outlines the latest developments in network sunsets. The data provided here covers network sunsets by year, technology and region. The report also spotlights the momentum in 2G/3G network sunsets in the context of total active 2G/3G networks globally.
Connectivity trends in robotics: 5G and cellular IoT are only just emerging
From a telecoms perspective, robotics was recognised early on as a key future use case during the planning and rollout of 5G around seven years ago. With 5G-Advanced now commercially deployed in early-adopter countries, it is timely to evaluate 5G’s real-world impact on robotics. We also explore how complementary technologies such as edge computing, IoT and eSIM are shaping the connectivity landscape.
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
The impact of spectrum pricing in Bangladesh
At around 16%, Bangladesh’s spectrum-cost-to-revenue ratio exceeds the Asia Pacific median (10.4%) and is twice as high as the global median (7.7%). High spectrum cost has been shown to negatively impact consumer outcomes, such as network coverage and speeds. Reducing prices by 50% would align spectrum costs closer to the Asia Pacific median at about 12% by 2035, boosting 4G speeds by 17% and enabling 99% 5G coverage, yielding a cumulative $34 billion GDP boost. Aligning costs to the global median of 8% of operators’ revenue would increase 4G speeds by 22% and accelerate 5G rollout further, generating a $45 billion GDP boost.
Network Sunsets, Q2 2025
This quarterly series leverages GSMA Intelligence data on network sunsets to identify the key trends and understand the future. The report outlines the latest developments in network sunsets. The data provided here covers network sunsets by year, technology and region. The report also spotlights the momentum in 2G/3G network sunsets in the context of total active 2G/3G networks globally.
Connectivity trends in robotics: 5G and cellular IoT are only just emerging
From a telecoms perspective, robotics was recognised early on as a key future use case during the planning and rollout of 5G around seven years ago. With 5G-Advanced now commercially deployed in early-adopter countries, it is timely to evaluate 5G’s real-world impact on robotics. We also explore how complementary technologies such as edge computing, IoT and eSIM are shaping the connectivity landscape.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics