Download 4g connections hit one billion as mobile broadband momentum

4G CONNECTIONS HIT ONE BILLION AS MOBILE
BROADBAND MOMENTUM EXTENDS TO THE DEVELOPING
WORLD
PrintShare
22 Feb 2016
New Study Sees 4G Market Double in 2015; Industry Accounts For 4.2% of Global
GDP
Barcelona: The number of 4G mobile connections worldwide has surpassed the one
billion mark and is on track to account for a third of all mobile connections by
2020, according to a new study by the GSMA. The 2016 global edition of the
GSMA’s ‘Mobile Economy’ series of reports points to an accelerating technology
shift to 3G/4G mobile broadband networks across both developed and developing
markets, which is fuelling digital innovation, smartphone adoption and mobile data
growth. The study calculates that the mobile industry made a $3.1 trillion
contribution to the world economy last year, equivalent to 4.2 per cent of global
GDP.
“Our new report reveals that mobile broadband is now a truly global phenomenon,
extending high-speed connectivity and services to citizens in all corners of the
world,” said Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA. “The unprecedented
growth in mobile broadband last year is testament to the billions of dollars that
mobile operators have invested in next-generation networks, services and
spectrum in recent years. Mobile is now the most ubiquitous platform for people
and businesses to connect and innovate in today’s digital economy.”
4G accounted for one billion of the 7.3 billion mobile connections1 reached by the
end of 2015. The number of 4G connections doubled in 2015, largely as a result of
the increase in 4G network deployments in the developing world. At the end of the
year there were 451 live 4G (LTE) networks available in 151 countries, with almost
half of these in the developing world. 4G is forecast to account for around a third
of the almost nine billion mobile connections expected by 2020. Mobile broadband
networks (3G and 4G) accounted for 50 per cent of connections in 2015, a figure
set to rise to 70 per cent by 2020.
The combination of increasing mobile broadband access and rising smartphone
adoption is contributing to an explosion in mobile data usage. Smartphones
accounted for 45 per cent of mobile connections in 2015 (up from just 8 per cent
in 2010) and a further 2.6 billion smartphone connections are expected to be
added over the next five years. Mobile data volumes are forecast to grow at a
CAGR of 49 per cent over the next five years – a more than seven-fold increase –
approaching 40 exabytes per month by 20202. This will be equivalent to a global
average of 7 gigabytes per subscriber per month.
The number of unique mobile subscribers3 worldwide stood at 4.7 billion at the end
of 2015, equivalent to 63 per cent of the world’s population. Unique subscribers
are forecast to reach 5.6 billion by 2020, by which point more than 70 per cent of
the global population are expected to have a mobile subscription. More than 90
per cent of subscriber growth over the next five years is forecast to come from
developing world markets.
Mobile Contributing to GDP, Jobs and Public Funding
The global mobile industry added $3.1 trillion in economic value to the global
economy in 2015, equivalent to 4.2 per cent of GDP4. This is predicted to rise to
$3.7 trillion by 2020. The industry also directly and indirectly supported 32 million
jobs in 2015 (forecast to rise to 36 million in 2020) and contributed $430 billion to
public funding in the form of various types of taxation, a figure expected to grow
to $480 billion in 2020 based on current levels of taxation. This public funding
contribution excludes fees paid by operators for spectrum licences, which
generated more than $90 billion for governments around the world last year as
operators continued to acquire the spectrum they require to deploy mobile
broadband.
The widespread availability of mobile networks is accelerating the ability to
achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. From improving access to vital
services such as education, healthcare and financial services, to delivering smart
agriculture and electricity management solutions, building resilient infrastructures
or closing the gender gap, mobile technology is central in addressing a range of
socio-economic development challenges. However, the report also notes the need
for regulation to keep pace with rapid innovation.
“The fast pace of change means regulation can quickly become obsolete,
irrelevant or, in some cases, harmful – distorting competition, slowing innovation
and ultimately depriving consumers of the benefits of technological progress,”
added Granryd. “Recognising these challenges, the mobile industry is calling on
policymakers worldwide to adapt out-dated market regulations to reflect the new
digital ecosystem.”
The new report ‘The Mobile Economy: 2016’ is authored by GSMA Intelligence, the
research arm of the GSMA. To access the full report and related infographics
please visit:http://gsmamobileeconomy.com/2016/global/.
-ENDSNotes to Editors
1
A mobile connection refers to an active SIM card registered with a mobile
network, excluding M2M connections.
2
Source: Ericsson Mobility Report
3
A unique mobile subscriber represents an individual that can account for multiple
mobile connections (SIM cards).
4
GDP contribution includes direct and indirect contribution from mobile operators
(0.9%); related players e.g. device manufacturers and infrastructure vendors
(0.6%); general economy (0.5%); and productivity improvements (2.2%).
About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly
800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem,
including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers
and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The
GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile
World Congress Shanghai and the Mobile 360 Series conferences.
For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com.
Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.
Media Contacts:
Charlie Meredith-Hardy
+44 7917 298428
[email protected]
GSMA Press Office
[email protected]