All research

More people than ever before are now accessing the internet through mobile devices. However, the growth rate at which people are adopting mobile internet has remained flat, and significant digital divides persist. Closing these digital divides brings significant socioeconomic benefits and is more crucial than ever.

While the transformative socioeconomic impacts of digital technologies are well established, a digital divide persists in Africa, where around two thirds of the population do not currently use mobile internet. Against this backdrop, the GSMA has launched the Digital Africa Index - an interactive web tool to support policymakers and regulators.

The digital needs of industry, businesses and consumers have a clear impact on spectrum management considerations. To assist policymakers in their decision-making for the evolution of mobile spectrum, including the 6 GHz band, this report provides new evidence on data traffic growth, the utilisation of mobile and Wi-Fi in different scenarios and frequency bands, and how efficiently mobile and Wi-Fi technologies are currently utilising their existing spectrum.

Connectivity is a fundamental requirement in crisis settings, but the needs of crisis-affected communities are often poorly understood, under-appreciated and under-supported. This report explores the connectivity challenges faced by crisis-affected communities and the efforts to bridge the mobile coverage gap in humanitarian settings.

Setting aside dedicated spectrum for enterprises has been seen as a way of incentivising private network adoption and digitalisation. This research is the first of its kind to apply robust statistical analysis to the impact of spectrum set-asides. The results highlight the need to consider the unintended and undesired consequences of spectrum set-asides, particularly as there is no evidence of a clear benefit.

GSMA Intelligence has launched the 5G Connectivity Index to help enable increased coverage, adoption, usage and market development. The index provides a comprehensive assessment of 5G in 39 markets, offering insights for informed decision-making and investment by the mobile ecosystem and policymakers. This findings from the first edition of the index are presented in this report.

This report assesses the impact of mobile money interoperability by considering the economic literature on interoperability more generally and utilising a case study approach in five mobile money countries: Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda and Tanzania. In each market, we assess how mobile money adoption and usage evolved after different interoperability solutions took effect.

Technology-neutral spectrum licensing (also referred to as technology neutrality) is crucial to allow mobile operators to refarm spectrum used for legacy networks (2G and 3G) for 4G and 5G services, at a pace driven by market demand. This report takes a closer look at the benefits of technology-neutral licences.

Indonesia is among the largest and fastest-growing digital economies in Asia-Pacific. While the government's digital roadmap for 2021-2024 recognises ICT infrastructure as a key enabler of digital transformation, realising this vision will only be possible if the country's operators have access to the right amount and type of affordable spectrum.

To understand the performance of universal service funds (USFs) in Africa, the GSMA conducted an extensive study. This included a survey of stakeholders, including USF authorities, government ministries and service providers. The results highlight structural and operational challenges requiring urgent attention from policymakers and USF authorities.

This study is the first to establish a causal link between the adoption of digital financial services and long-term economic growth. It shows that mobile money had a positive and significant impact on GDP growth between 2013 and 2022.

The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2023 provides the mobile industry and other stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of the trends in global connectivity, as well as insights on key barriers to mobile internet adoption and use.

Underpinning the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a shared promise by every country to work together to secure the rights and wellbeing of everyone on a healthy, thriving planet. However, at the halfway point on the way to 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are in deep trouble. This report demonstrates the mobile industry's continued commitment to the goals, and identifies areas where the industry needs to improve or accelerate its actions to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

In 2020, Ethiopia allowed non-banks to provide mobile money services - a key step in advancing financial inclusion and driving growth. This study looks at the rapidly evolving mobile money ecosystem, and opportunities to boost adoption and usage.

Without sufficient low-band spectrum, the digital divide is likely to widen, and those living in rural areas will be excluded from the latest digital technologies. This report shows, for the first time, the specific economic impact of 5G using low-band spectrum. The report also provides distribution of 5G low-band benefits by use case and by region, and uncovers the industries that will benefit the most.

Press reports suggest the government in Malaysia may be considering a change to its 5G network strategy, two years after the decision to adopt a single wholesale network (SWN) approach. As yet, there is no confirmation the government will change course or what that change would be. However, any shift could have ramifications for the pace of 5G rollout and adoption, and how operators manage infrastructure. This Insight Spotlight reiterates the value of 5G coverage and adoption, the routes available and the potential implications of a change in direction.

The GSMA Intelligence Global Mobile Trends report is back, examining all the biggest developments to expect in telecoms and the broader TMT space in 2023. This comprehensive report draws on GSMA Intelligence data, survey findings and industry conversations to focus on the trends that matter most and what they mean for those in telecoms and beyond.

The Mobile Money Regulatory Index has proven to be useful in stimulating debate on the reforms that may be undertaken in more restrictive mobile money markets and, ultimately, help support the efforts of the mobile industry, governments and wider international development community to accelerate the deployment of mobile money, especially among populations that are financially underserved.

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 'inverted U' relationship between competition and investment.

Despite its ambitions, Europe has lagged behind its economic peers when it comes to the adoption and deployment of 5G. An important question is whether market conditions, such as competition dynamics, sufficiently incentivise the investments needed to achieve Europe's 5G targets and offer advanced 5G services. In this report, we assess how competition dynamics in Europe impacted investment and mobile network performance during 2011-2021.

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 how using total population as a metric can understate the true level of connectivity, and highlight how this year's State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2022 report presents penetration based on adults aged 18+ only.

The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2022 report provides the mobile industry and other stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of the trends in global connectivity, as well as insights on key barriers to mobile internet adoption and use. It includes, for the first time, insight on mobile internet connectivity among adults and by income group, as well as an assessment of the situation in the least developed countries.

Mobile networks are vital to economic recovery and realising green and digital transformation across Europe. Two years into the EU's Digital Decade, the connectivity target of 'Gigabit for everyone, 5G everywhere' has never felt more urgent.

This seventh annual SDG impact report demonstrates the mobile industry's continued commitment to the SDGs while identifying areas where the industry needs to improve or accelerate its actions to deliver on the Global Goals by 2030.

Spectrum policymakers around the world face an important decision in the coming years as they look to decide the optimal approach for managing spectrum in the 6 GHz frequency band. This updated GSMA Intelligence study carries out a cost-benefit analysis of different licensed and unlicensed assignment options for the 6 GHz band in 24 countries.

To gain a better understanding of the policies and interventions needed to accelerate connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa, this study maps mobile coverage and adoption in seven African countries at the highest possible resolution and simulates the effects of different policies on both the location of infrastructure and demand for mobile and internet services.

In this snapshot, GSMA Intelligence examines the key announcements and innovations in spectrum at MWC22, and what they mean for the industry. For the full analysis of topics covered at MWC22, see "MWC22 Barcelona: insights beyond the headlines".