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Mobile is now central to economic diversification across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The region has some of the world’s most advanced 5G markets across the Gulf Cooperation Council states, but large parts of MENA's population remain offline, and the 2026 regional conflict has shown how vulnerable digital infrastructure is. In addition to exploring these areas, this report examines how 5G, AI infrastructure and digital identity are transforming the region and explores what policymakers need to do to support operators.

Mobile technologies will play a central role in driving Canada’s next phase of economic growth and digital transformation. By 2030, mobile’s contribution is forecast to reach $170 billion, driven by continued adoption of 5G, AI and digital technologies across the economy. Maintaining investment in networks, spectrum and digital infrastructure will be critical to ensuring Canada can fully realise the opportunities of an increasingly connected and AI-driven economy.

As 5G standalone and 5G-Advanced mature across North America, mobile connectivity is becoming strategic infrastructure for AI, cloud services, industrial automation and new enterprise applications. Continued investment in mobile networks will be critical to improve productivity, strengthen resilience and maintain the region’s long-term competitiveness. In 2025, mobile technologies and services generated $1.9 trillion in economic value across North America, equivalent to 5.8% of regional GDP.

By the end of 2025, the number of people using mobile internet increased to 4.8 billion people (59% of the global population). However, around 3.4 billion people still do not use mobile internet, and significant digital divides persist. As advancements in technologies such as AI accelerate the pace of digitalisation, it is more critical than ever to ensure no one is left behind. The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2026 provides the mobile industry and other stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of the trends in global connectivity, as well as insights on key barriers to mobile internet adoption and to further use of mobile internet among existing users.

Asia Pacific’s mobile story is moving beyond just coverage. The region’s next challenge is converting connectivity into digital participation, trusted AI-era infrastructure and resilient growth. This report explores how 5G, AI, network APIs, cybersecurity and infrastructure resilience are reshaping operator strategies. It also outlines the policy priorities needed to sustain investment, close the usage gap and strengthen Asia Pacific’s digital economy.

China’s mobile ecosystem is entering a new phase as large-scale 5G deployment gives way to more intelligent, differentiated and resilient digital infrastructure. In 2025, mobile technologies and services generated $1.5 trillion in economic value, equivalent to 7.2% of GDP, while supporting employment, fiscal revenues and economy-wide digital transformation.

Saudi Arabia is a leading country in digital transformation, with mobile connectivity playing a central role in supporting economic growth, innovation and Vision 2030. This study assesses Saudi Arabia’s mobile quality of service (QoS) and market status in a global context, with a focus on digital infrastructure benchmarking, 5G development, public policy, QoS obligations and alignment with international best practice.

Operators across the continent are moving beyond their traditional role as connectivity providers: they are repositioning themselves as full-stack digital partners for enterprises and governments; deploying AI across networks and customer operations; and opening network capabilities to developers through standardised APIs. This evolution is already reflected in the numbers. In 2025, mobile technologies and services generated $240 billion in economic value across Africa, rising to $290 billion by 2030.

The efforts of operators and their partners translate into a significant economic impact for countries in the EU. In 2025, mobile technologies contributed €1.1 trillion of economic value in the region. However, Europe is at a crucial moment. As the region looks to boost competitiveness and strengthen resilience in an uncertain global environment, the quality of its digital infrastructure will be a key determinant of success.

Operators across Eurasia are navigating a structurally challenging environment, yet the mobile ecosystem plays a crucial role supporting resilience across the region. Mobile technologies and services generated $270 billion for the Eurasian economy in 2025, equivalent to 8.1% of GDP. The industry’s economic contribution will reach $300 billion by 2030.

The role of the mobile industry as an engine of economic development is particularly important as Latin America experiences moderate growth and persistent productivity challenges. With traditional growth drivers under pressure, digital technologies are becoming essential tools to boost competitiveness and support economic diversification. In 2025, mobile technologies and services in Latin America generated $600 billion in economic value, supported nearly 3 million jobs and contributed $50 billion in public revenues.

The mobile industry underpins global connectivity, enabling seamless communication, real‑time data exchange and an expansive ecosystem of consumer and enterprise applications. While extending ubiquitous connectivity through advanced 4G and 5G networks remains a core priority, the industry is also entering a new era shaped by intelligent, adaptive and value‑added digital services. This shift is being enabled by next‑generation mobile networks, such as 5G standalone architectures, and the rapid integration of AI and other transformative technologies across consumer applications and enterprise solutions.

The mobile industry continues to play a significant role in digital transformation across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with advanced networks supporting new applications for consumers and businesses. The expansion of coverage and the transition to 4G and 5G are influencing technological development and economic growth, as reflected by the mobile sector’s contribution.

Mobile connectivity is a cornerstone for building modern, inclusive and sustainable digital economies in Africa. It also enables transformative technologies such as AI to be integrated into the daily activities of individuals and businesses. Additionally, the mobile ecosystem has become a critical driver of economic growth, helping countries navigate structural challenges such as infrastructure gaps, energy constraints, affordability pressures and shifting demographics.

Across North America, almost 320 million people are connected to the mobile internet. Around 60% connect through 5G networks, underlining the speed at which the region is migrating to next-generation devices and services.

The final report in this series explores how affordability of entry-level, internet-enabled handsets and various data bundles have changed over time, and how affordability impacts different segments of the population.

Mobile connectivity supports efforts to develop modern, inclusive and sustainable digital nations in Asia Pacific, facilitating the increasing integration of transformative technologies such as AI into daily activities for individuals and businesses. In 2024, the mobile sector accounted for 5.6% of GDP in Asia Pacific, contributing $950 billion in value. This is expected to rise to $1.4 trillion by 2030, equivalent to 6.6% of GDP, as the impacts of 5G technology become more widespread across local economies. To fully unlock this potential, fostering digital trust and ensuring the sustainability of the industry have become key priorities for stakeholders across the region's digital ecosystem. This means driving 5G monetisation, addressing the scam economy and mitigating cybersecurity threats, alongside bridging investment gaps, balancing innovation with regulations and implementing effective spectrum policies.

Operators across Latin America are making steady progress on their 5G journey, with adoption forecast to reach more than 50% by 2030. This latest edition of The Mobile Economy Latin America provides an update on key mobile market data and the impact of mobile on the economy across the region.

Governments in Eurasia are increasingly using mobile connectivity as a platform to transform their countries into modern digital economies. This shift is driven by the recognition that robust digital infrastructure, particularly mobile networks, improves public services and unlocks economic growth. Across the region, mobile connectivity is enabling citizens to engage with e-government systems and access education, healthcare and emergency services, even from remote and mountainous regions.