This report highlights how behaviour of smartphone users varies by age groups in a subset of key developed markets in use cases across the following four categories: communications, entertainment, payments and lifestyle. It focuses on the digital divide between those aged 18-34 and those aged 35+ and the challenges and opportunities this poses for driving future engagement.

With the formal announcement of Libra in June, Facebook has made clear its intention to break into the blockchain space. While Libra will purportedly reduce friction by cutting out transactional intermediaries, its path to success is fraught with regulatory headwinds. We take a critical stance on the intersection between Libra and existing operator-led mobile money services and examine the competitive tensions arising between the two, especially in developing markets.

At the recent GSMA Mobile 360 – Africa event, two initiatives aimed at bringing affordable smartphones to consumers were showcased: a $22 entry-level smart featurephone running on KaiOS; and a high-spec $150 Android smartphone offered on a pay-as-you-go finance basis by startup Maraphone. While both look to unlock smartphone affordability, payment plans that enable better specifications and experience may in the long term be the key for Africa’s youthful and aspirational population.

In 2018, almost 300 million people connected to mobile internet for the first time, bringing the total connected population to more than 3.5 billion people globally. For many of these individuals, mobile is the only method of accessing the internet, so growth in mobile internet adoption also drives digital inclusion, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Back in October 2018 we highlighted supply chain management as one of the most promising and dynamic areas for non-crypto use of blockchain. Almost a year on, blockchain in supply chains has matured commercially, providing solutions to some of the sector’s long-held problems such as counterfeit goods, as well as use cases for the circular economy. Technology maturity has also given rise to new innovative players, resulting in expansion of the ecosystem.

GSMA Intelligence infographics exploit the power of our database comprising millions of data points to produce informative and engaging visuals. Based on robust forecasting foundations, the infographics present the way ahead for markets, the outlook for technologies, and trends in user behaviour.

At the recent Telefónica Industry Analyst Day, the operator gave an update on progress with the strategy it embarked on four years ago. The cornerstone of the strategy is digital transformation into a “four-platform” company through the use of advanced networks, AI and automation. The event highlighted how the company is using data and AI to enable its own digital transformation but also how the company aims to use these capabilities to grow its revenues in both the B2B and B2C markets

In this report, we look at the intersection between finance and mobile across different perspectives: competitive landscape, consumer usage and enabling technologies. We also look at which markets are seeing the most disruption to incumbent financial institutions and the players that can benefit the most from this, including operators such as Orange and Turkcell and tech players such as Apple, Ant Financial, and Tencent (WeChat).

There are more than 2.3 billion active gamers in the world, led by China and the US with more than 620 million and 180 million gamers respectively. Mobile is the key growth driver in the sector; the segment accounted for more than 50% of worldwide gaming revenue for the first time in 2018. This trend is set to continue with mobile gaming boosted by the emergence of cloud-based services such as Google Stadia and Tencent Start, as well as launches by incumbent console OEMs and a host of start-ups, such as Blade and Vortex.

To succeed, agri e-commerce businesses require scalable and sustainable business models that reflect local market conditions. This report analyses the factors that agri e-commerce businesses must consider when developing their business model, focussing on Sub-Saharan Africa as well as developing countries in Asia and Latin America. The report contains key emerging trends, case studies and recommendations for stakeholders to maximise the agri e-commerce opportunity

Tourism and cultural experiences have remained remarkably unchanged by the digital transformation seen elsewhere over the last few years. However, with the rise of millennials and digital natives as travellers, traditional models for the industry are now being challenged. The advent of 5G, particularly with AR/VR, will make immersive digital experiences an essential part of the way people experience culture in cities, museums and venues. Players in the ecosystem need to rethink their roles in the value chain to reap the benefits of the transformation underway.

There are now 866 million registered mobile money accounts worldwide – with more than three-quarters of these accounts in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Person-to-person transfers and airtime top-ups drove initial adoption, followed by the rise of bill payment solutions and bulk disbursements. The commercial landscape is now shifting once again, with fintechs creating new solutions to access more advanced financial services.

The growth of the mobile industry has driven an unprecedented increase in digital inclusion in low- and middle-income countries. Since 2014, mobile operators have connected 700 million new subscribers and another billion have gained access to the internet through a mobile phone, many for the first time. Despite this growth, mobile ownership still remains far from universal, particularly for women. Women in low- and middle-income countries are 10 per cent less likely than men to own a mobile, and 23 per cent less likely to use mobile internet.

GSMA Intelligence infographics exploit the power of our database comprising millions of data points to produce informative and engaging visuals. Based on robust forecasting foundations, the infographics present the way ahead for markets, the outlook for technologies and trends in user behaviour.

At the end of 2017, 3.3 billion people were connected to the mobile internet, representing an increase of almost 300 million compared to the previous year. However, more than 4 billion people remain offline and 1 billion of these are not covered by mobile broadband networks (the ‘coverage gap’).

Although mobile has become the dominant platform for digital commerce around the world, consumer purchasing habits and rates vary significantly.

The millennial generation – born between 1980 and 2000 – is projected to reach 800 million people in mid- to high-income countries by 2020. This is larger than both Generation X (570 million) and the Baby Boomers (490 million). The impact on advanced economies will be felt from a shift in purchasing power, a redefinition of traditional life planning, asset ownership rates and – our focus here – technological adoption and reliance. Mobile internet will become the central platform of economic transaction and social interaction. Millennials are a driving force in the transition to digital economies as Boomers were in the shift to service-based economies in the 1970s and 1980s – only more so and at a faster rate.

The Global Mobile Radar series focuses on potential drivers of innovation and disruption across the digital economy. These reports highlight potential scenarios and examine the implications of these disruptions for a range of industry players, including the mobile operators. The reports are intended to be the basis for discussion and do not represent official GSMA positions on these future developments.

Digital technology in Côte d’Ivoire is evolving rapidly, leading to the emergence of new services and applications that are transforming the way people live, work, play and communicate. The large-scale societal adoption and use of digital technologies, particularly via mobile, is a key driver of measurable economic, social and cultural value, including increased productivity and employment, improved security and greater capacity to tackle social and environmental issues.

GSMA Intelligence is today publishing the latest in its country overview series. The report is the second part of a deep dive into the mobile industry of Bangladesh that examines the key challenges to digital inclusion and the public policy implications to support achievement of the country’s national development plan (Vision 2021) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).