Population growth is becoming a largely urban phenomenon concentrated in the developing world, which explains the fast declining rural populations in most BRIC countries. These countries also share a number of other characteristics that are shaping their respective mobile markets, including a burgeoning new middle class, high penetration in urban areas and high instances of multiple SIMs per user.

Efforts by national regulators to boost competition in their respective mobile markets have produced mixed results across the global industry, according to a new GSMA Intelligence report.

Consumers outside of the main urban centres in India will quickly account for the majority of 3G connections following the rollout of the first private 3G networks next year, according to new GSMA Intelligence research. But the study warns that the high cost of acquiring spectrum and rolling out the new networks into rural areas means that return-on-investment is not likely to happen until operators have tapped the mid-term market potential, which is estimated to take at least three years.

Pakistan has grown quickly to become the tenth-largest mobile market in the world, prompting numerous international operators to invest in the market. However, after many quarters of strong growth, the market saw a decline in the number of mobile connections in the last quarter of 2008. According to GSMA Intelligence data, connections shrunk by 0.33% in Q4, 2008, due mainly to declines at Mobilink, the market leader. On an annual basis, the market still grew by almost 17% but this was almost half the growth rate seen a year earlier

The Johannesburg-based Pan-African and Middle Eastern mobile group MTN has been the subject of feverish M&A speculation in the media over the last few weeks. India's Bharti has already held talks and this week another Indian mobile group, Reliance, also confirmed it has entered negotiations.

An increasing number of 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) service providers are targeting the business segment. However, 5G FWA is a constrained business opportunity at the moment due to network and spectrum capacity limitations. There are several key factors for operators to consider in order to make the most of the opportunity, which are covered in this report.

Private networks using LTE technology have existed for some time but on a relatively small scale. Private 5G, though, represents a significant market opportunity; a range of ecosystem players, not just telecoms operators, are aiming to take advantage. Leading cloud infrastructure and application providers (so-called hyperscalers) are launching private 5G enterprise solutions, reflecting their appetite to take a growing share of this expanding market.

Led by big tech firms, genAI advancements have come thick and fast. In this report we review the latest developments and innovation across five key areas, and what they mean for consumers and AI ecosystem players such as operators, device makers and regulators.

This Insight Spotlight presents GSMA Intelligence's key takeaways across five areas of key announcements at CES 2024: artificial intelligence (AI), devices, smart home, digital entertainment and automotive. As these developments unfold, there are important implications for industry players, including operators, on the road ahead.

IFA, the consumer electronics and home appliance trade show, was back in full force for 2023 with around 180,000 attendees from more than 135 countries. Key developments from the show spanned five areas: sustainability in consumer devices and appliances; the smart home; AI in consumer devices and appliances; smartphones and wearables; and gaming.

Increasingly advanced AI integration in smartphones is expected to have a wide-ranging impact across smartphone hardware, software and user apps. In this report we take an in-depth look at the future of advanced AI integration in smartphones and the implications for industry players such as OEMs and operators.

IBC 2024 recently took place in Amsterdam. Among the developments and trends seen at the show were content monetisation through enhanced visibility and advertising; cost reduction through increased efficiency and combating piracy; and the growing use of 5G in broadcasting.