The mobile industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has largely risen to the challenge of sustaining social and economic activities in the region during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the unprecedented growth in data traffic. However, Covid-19 has also highlighted the impact of the digital divide for the large number of people in the region still unable to connect to mobile internet. With digital connectivity expected to play an even more central role in society post Covid-19, it is more important now than ever before to address the barriers to mobile internet adoption and usage in the region.

This latest report from GSMA Intelligence highlights how 4G became the CIS region's leading mobile technology in 2020 and will account for 65% of total connections by 2025. With lower cost handsets increasingly available across the region, smartphone adoption is set to reach more than 80% by 2025. With Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia expected to launch 5G during 2021, and 5G networks in the region's other nine markets set to go live by 2025, GSMA Intelligence forecasts that there will be 52 million 5G connections across the CIS region by 2025.

Most of North America has been subject to lockdown measures at some point in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time, mobile has proved crucial in keeping individuals safe and economies functioning. Although the rate of 5G adoption was lower than initially expected in the first half of 2020 because of the pandemic, this is likely to be a blip. North America will reach 100 million 5G connections in 2022, and by 2025 it will have become the first region where 5G accounts for more than 50% of total connections.

GSMA Intelligence's Chart of the Month is a visual way of telling an important story in the mobile and broader tech ecosystem. From the shape and size of markets to trends in consumer behaviour, we aim to provide food for thought through informative visuals designed to bring colour and clarity to complex issues facing the industry. In this edition, we show how the mobile industry's impact on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2019 grew faster than ever before.

The mobile industry in Sub-Saharan Africa has largely risen to the challenge of keeping individuals and businesses connected during the pandemic, despite changes in data consumption patterns. However, with nearly 800 million people in the region still not connected to the mobile internet, it has never been more urgent to close the digital divide.

Almost half of the world's population - 3.8 billion people - are using mobile internet. This continues to grow, with an additional 250 million people connecting for the first time in 2019. For many citizens, mobile is their only means of accessing the internet, helping to unlock significant and life-enhancing knowledge, products and services.

The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2020 examines how the mobile gender gap is changing quickly in LMICs, revealing how the main factors preventing women's equal mobile ownership and internet use are evolving over time, and demonstrating how mobile usage is quickly expanding as smartphone ownership rises.

The digital ecosystem across Asia Pacific has proved vital in the response to recent global challenges, especially the Covid-19 pandemic. Participants from the entire digital value chain are pulling together to ensure the most positive outcome possible.

2019 was a pivotal year for China. The country was one of the first globally to launch 5G services. With operators and enterprises forging ahead in the development of 5G services, and growing consumer excitement, China has cemented its position as a global leader in 5G.

GSMA Intelligence���s Chart of the Month is a visual way of telling an important story in the mobile and broader tech ecosystem. From the shape and size of markets to trends in consumer behaviour, we aim to provide food for thought through informative visuals designed to bring colour and clarity to complex issues facing the industry. In this edition, we look at the rising number of mobile internet users around the world and explore the main sources of this growth.

By the end of 2019, 5.2 billion people subscribed to mobile services, accounting for 67% of the global population; this is forecast to grow by 600 million to 5.8 billion by 2025 (70% of the population). 2019 was also a pivotal year for 5G: the technology is now live in 24 markets, while 5G awareness and intention to upgrade among consumers are both on the rise. At the same time, 4G became the dominant mobile technology across the world constituting 52% of total connections; this figure will grow over the next few years, peaking at just under 60% of global connections in 2023.

Despite two thirds of the global population being mobile subscribers, the true growth story ahead will be in mobile internet subscribers, according to this latest infographic from GSMA Intelligence. Between 2019 and 2025, mobile internet subscribers will increase by more than 30%. New 4G networks, increased smartphone adoption and the growing availability of locally relevant content in emerging markets will help fuel growth in mobile internet subscribers.

From the shape and size of markets to trends in consumer behaviour, we aim to provide food for thought through informative visuals designed to bring some colour and clarity to complex issues facing the industry. In this edition, we look at the meteoric rise of 4G in India against a financial backdrop that raises questions over the sustainability of the sector.

By 2023, mobile's contribution to the Latin American economy will reach just over $300 billion as countries increasingly benefit from the increased uptake of mobile services and the associated improvements in productivity and efficiency. Driven by ongoing network investment and upcoming spectrum assignments, 4G adoption will accelerate in Latin America over the next few years, reaching 67% by 2025, and pave the way for 5G. The two technologies will coexist for a long time, with 5G's first commercial launch in the region expected in 2020.

5G services have become a reality in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. As of October 2019, 10 operators had launched commercial 5G services in five GCC Arab States. Mobile operators in these countries are aiming to be global leaders in 5G deployments, while governments view the technology as a potential enabler for their digital transformation ambitions. The 2020s will see 5G activities become more widespread across the region, with trials and commercial launches expected in non-GCC countries.

Following commercial launches by the four largest US mobile operators, 5G is now a reality. With Canada also set to deploy 5G in 2020, 5G adoption is expected to rapidly gather pace across North America. As such, the continent will be a leader of the 5G era. This report explores the mobile markets of the US, Canada and the Caribbean, including the impact mobile has on the North American economy and 5G-related developments and opportunities in the region.

To fully realise the opportunity mobile technology presents to achieve Pakistan's national development aspirations, there is a need for key stakeholders on the country's development journey to collaborate on key initiatives and actions that can increase access to mobile connectivity and accelerate its impact on the lives of individuals and communities. In this report we have identified three distinct but interrelated actions for stakeholders to enhance the impact of mobile-enabled digital transformation on Pakistan's development aspirations.

Russia will lead the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the commercialisation of 5G services, with the region's other markets all launching 5G networks by 2025. 5G networks have the potential to transform the digital economy for businesses and citizens alike. This latest report highlights how Russia and the CIS region is preparing to enter this new era.

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.

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).