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’).

For many consumers across Sub-Saharan Africa, the mobile phone is not just a communication device but also the primary channel to get online, as well as a vital tool to access various life-enhancing services.

Asia Pacific has been the biggest contributor to global subscriber growth in recent years and still has room for growth. However, growth has reached its peak and has started to taper out. With some markets at the forefront of global innovation, yet others with millions of people still to take their first foray online, there is a growing need across the region to look beyond mobile adoption and towards migration to faster networks and increased usage of the mobile internet.

GSMA Intelligence, in collaboration with the GSMA’s Disaster Response team, is today publishing a report on disaster response in Middle East and North Africa. This report is part of a series focusing on four key regions: Asia Pacific, Middle East & North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

The positive contribution of the mobile sector to the economy is well recognised. However, the tax treatment of the sector is not always aligned with best-practice principles of taxation and can affect the levels of development of digital societies across a region.

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.

Having surpassed 5 billion people connected to mobile services in 2017, the global mobile industry will reach further milestones over the next eight years. The number of unique mobile subscribers will reach 5.9 billion by 2025, equivalent to 71% of the world’s population. Growth will be driven by developing countries, particularly India, China, Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh, as well as Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

GSMA Intelligence is today releasing its latest publication outlining the growth story for mobile subscribers and mobile internet users to 2025

Mobile technology plays a critical role in supporting the achievement of the SDGs and Vision 2021 in Bangladesh. Basic voice connectivity offers many societal, economic and environmental benefits. Upgrading to mobile broadband, to smartphones, and further to M2M and IoT, together with rapid digital transformation, creates a significant opportunity for the mobile industry to support governments in meeting their SDG commitments. In this report we examine the priority areas and challenges that Bangladesh is facing, and what mobile can do to help address them.

The positive contribution of the mobile sector to the economy is well recognised. However, the tax treatment of the sector is not always aligned with best-practice principles of taxation, and may distort the continued development of the sector. Faced with considerable challenges in having to balance public sector budgets, some governments in Latin America apply additional, sector-specific taxes on consumers and mobile operators.

Ghana has played a proactive role in the SDGs, which aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Government commitment to the SDGs reflects the fact that, while Ghana is a fast growing economy (GDP growth has been an impressive 7% per year over the last 10 years), development challenges and gaps in access to basic services persist. Mobile – as a technology and as an industry – is uniquely placed to support the SDGs and development outcomes through the multiplier effect that comes from providing connectivity.

An unprecedented number of people were forced to leave of flee their homes due to conflict and persecution in 2016, with the global displaced population reaching nearly 64 million by mid-year. An area of increasing focus is the opportunity for mobile and digital technology to play a role in establishing unique, digital identities for refugees.

At the United Nations General Assembly Week, the GSMA published the 2017 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals – the second annual study assessing the mobile industry’s impact in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report, produced by GSMA Intelligence, measures the progress that the industry is making against the SDGs. It also sets out several commitments and initiatives that the GSMA and its members will focus on delivering over the next year, contributing further to achieving the SDGs.