Mobile World Congress kicks off in Barcelona this week with tech leaders coming together from 3 to 6 March to explore the trends and technologies shaping the mobile industry in 2025.
The GSMA launched its annual Mobile Economy Report 2025 on Monday, which highlighted critical trends shaping the future of the mobile economy, which will set the tone for this week’s event.
Some key report findings include:
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Mobile technologies and services generated 5.8% of global GDP in 2024, equivalent to $6.5 trillion of economic value.
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By 2030, this figure is expected to rise to nearly $11 trillion, or 8.4% of GDP, as countries around the world increasingly benefit from the improvements in productivity and efficiency brought about by the increased take-up of mobile services and digital technologies, including 5G, IoT and AI.
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Vertical sectors are expected to benefit: between 2024 and 2030, the primary beneficiaries will include manufacturing (25%), accommodation and food services (17%), and public administration (14%).
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58% of the world’s population were using mobile internet at the end of 2024, representing 4.7 billion users – a number expected to rise to 5.5 billion users (64%) by 2030.
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5G connections worldwide surpassed two billion at the end of 2024 and will account for over half (57%) of total mobile connections in 2030, overtaking 4G adoption by 2028.
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5G Standalone is expected to drive 70% of all enterprise revenue expansion through to 2030, representing a $127 billion opportunity.
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One such opportunity is GSMA Open Gateway – 72 operator groups have signed up to the initiative so far, accounting for almost 80% of mobile connections globally, with 52 commercial launches and over 200 APIs certified or in the pipeline.
GSMA guidance for governments and regulators
The report also highlighted how governments and regulators should act in order to maximise the benefits of 5G.
It said they need to make available sufficient 5G spectrum and avoid limiting the supply via set-asides, set modest reserve prices and annual fees to let the market determine spectrum prices, carefully consider auction design to avoid unnecessary risks for bidders – such as avoiding mismatched lot sizes, which create artificial scarcity.
Moreover, the GSMA report said governments and regulators should develop and publish a 5G spectrum roadmap with the input of stakeholders to help operators plan effectively around future availability, consult stakeholders on the award rules and licence terms and conditions, taking them into account when setting prices – noting how onerous obligations reduce the value of spectrum.
“Fortunately, governments and regulators are increasingly mindful of the negative impact of high prices and poorly designed assignment mechanisms. Instead, they are adopting new pricing and licensing approaches to ease the financial pressure on operators while encouraging investments in connectivity and coverage. These approaches include licensing spectrum on a technology-neutral basis. This is a crucial step, as it allows for the refarming of spectrum for 4G and 5G at a pace driven by market demand.
“Licensing terms are extended without additional payments, helping create an investment-friendly environment for the future. Regulators are also attaching coverage commitments in exchange for lower prices when auctioning or renewing spectrum. Conditions should always be used with caution after careful consideration of any potential risks. Consulting with the industry will help maximise the chance of a successful outcome,” the GSMA report also noted.
