
9 minute read
Share
Report highlights
Downloads
Report pdf
Survey Findings (Infographics) pdf
Surge in digital adoption shows no sign of slowing down: three in four expect mobile usage to increase, with Thai respondents leading this trend.
Gen Z and Millennials fear they are overusing technology and lack the skills to keep pace with digital acceleration.
Nearly all (93%) have major concerns about privacy and security.
Three in four are optimistic about the potential of mobile connectivity to help them to live more sustainable lives.
Nine in 10 believe mobile connectivity improves financial, healthcare and education access.
People across Asia are united by a firm belief that connectivity empowers them with more economic opportunity, daily convenience, and greater access to essential services, according to Telenor Asia's new Digital Lives Decoded study.
The study, released in conjunction with Telenor's 25th anniversary in Asia, surveyed over 8,000 mobile internet users across eight countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) in South and Southeast Asia. The survey revealed a common appreciation for the benefits of an always-on life, where mobile connectivity enriches relationships, delivers convenience and makes it easier for people to participate in the digital economy.
A resounding 93% of respondents believe that their mobile usage improves quality of life. Overall, women lead this trend with 64% saying their quality of life is significantly enhanced compared to 52% of men. This trend is most apparent in Thailand (76%) and Indonesia (74%), where the highest number of women are connecting to significantly better lives through their mobile use.
It is often reported that mobile usage comes between people, distracting users from those around them and damaging relationships and interpersonal communication skills. However, this study dispels that notion. Compared to before the pandemic, mobile data usage has more than doubled in most Asian markets, reshaping how we communicate at work and at home. Interestingly, this survey shows that people want the changes in digital use and their daily lives to stay. In fact, they continue to immerse themselves in a digital world despite rules on travel and social interaction being relaxed, said J rgen Rostrup, Head of Telenor Asia.
As connectivity puts power into the hands of people, this study also revealed where digital gaps remain, particularly in rural and elderly populations. With mobile connectivity evolving from a nice-to-have to a must-have, the need to understand these gaps is becoming more important to policymakers, businesses, and individuals alike. Insights from this study can thus act as a map of where to bridge the widest digital divides, he added.
1. Swiping up for an always-on lifestyle
Nearly all consumers surveyed have their mobile device with them for at least half of the day, and one in five are never without their phone. Yet, the majority of respondents surveyed feel they strike a good balance on their use of technology (76%).
People in the Philippines and Thailand are most dependent on their mobile phones, with 29% and 25% respectively saying they are never without their mobile phones. This dependence is set to grow, with nearly three in four people (74%) expecting their mobile usage to increase in the coming years, a trend greatest among respondents in Thailand (82%).
2. Keeping up as digital life charges ahead
Generational differences in how people feel about the surge in time spent online are apparent, however. Gen Z respondents, the youngest surveyed, are more likely to feel that they are overusing technology. Along with their millennial counterparts, Gen Z respondents were also the most concerned about having the right skills to keep pace with technology. This was a concern shared across generations, with 85% of respondents worried that their digital skills will not keep pace with a rapidly evolving digital environment.
3. (Lack of) trust in the digital world
Concerns around privacy and security of mobile devices surfaced for 93% of respondents across the region, amid a well-recognised surge in digital adoption. Of those who reduced their mobile usage in the past year, one in three Gen Z respondents in Malaysia cited privacy and security concerns as the top reason for the decrease. Conversely, people in Thailand were least concerned, with nearly a quarter of respondents not concerned about this at all.
4. Tapping into a more sustainable life
The study also reveals optimism about the potential for mobile technology to advance environmental sustainability. Two-thirds of those surveyed believe that digital access is very important for them to lead greener lives in the future. Interestingly, there were also differences across markets with lowest in Thailand (63%), Malaysia (57%) and Singapore (41%).
People cited the greatest benefits come in the areas of reducing paper, waste, and electricity (70% of respondents), being able to communicate more efficiently (67%) and providing better access to public transport with more information (55%). However, this does not take into consideration that surging data use will require greater energy consumption.
5. Mobile technology is closing the digital divide
The study also points to the greater potential women see in mobile usage, with more women than men saying mobile connectivity has enhanced their options for working and generating income and gave them better access to information and education opportunities. Interestingly, Singapore is the only country where this trend is reversed, with more males (54%) than females (49%) finding that mobile usage improves their lives significantly.
Respondents also recognise how mobile connectivity is inclusive, giving people greater acce
More from Telenor Digital Services and Broadcast
28/03/2023
2 minute read
Share
Annual Report 2022
Telenor's Annual Report for 2022 covers financial statements, sustainability reporting, an overview of 20...
16/03/2023
7 minute read
Share
Cisco and Telenor Group executives celebrate the fifth...
08/03/2023
7 minute read
Share
Three women who are working on some of the most important priorities for Telenor Asia tell us how they have stepped into leadership ro...
08/03/2023
7 minute read
Share
Empowering Societies Digital skills Include Inclusion Grameenphone
Grameenphone and Plan International Bangladesh join hands...
07/03/2023
9 minute read
Share
Writer: Mindy Tan
View original article on The Busine...
01/03/2023
11 minute read
Share
dtac Telenor Asia
When Telenor made its foray into Thailand in 2003 through its investment in dtac, the company's vision was ...
01/03/2023
5 minute read
Share
Today, Telenor Asia announces the completion of the amalgamation of the telco operations of True and dtac in Thailand. The transaction...
14/02/2023
7 minute read
Share
Download the full Year in Review - 2022
Message from Head of Telenor Asia, J rgen C. Arentz Rostrup:
2022 marked a significant turn...
02/02/2023
7 minute read
Share
The quarter represents significant progress on our new strategic roadmap towards 2025. Mobile service revenues in Telenor Nordics inc...
01/02/2023
2 minute read
Share
(Fornebu, 1 February 2023) Telenor today closes the transaction to divest 30 percent of newly established Telenor Fiber AS, in Norway ...
31/01/2023
11 minute read
Share
View report highlights
Downloads
Report pdf
Info...
30/01/2023
9 minute read
Share
Download full report PDF
Survey Findings (Infographics) PDF
Read the press release
From virtual worlds to real-life communitie...
12/01/2023
3 minute read
Share
Dtac and True have today held separate board meetings regarding the ongoing merger process between the companies. The boards of direct...
23/12/2022
5 minute read
Share
What can time spent with schoolchildren teach entrepreneurs? A lot, it turns out. Alina Amir co-founded Malaysia's fast-rising Aru...
21/12/2022
8 minute read
Share
People feel less safe about online shopping, but lucki...
16/12/2022
6 minute read
Share
A recent survey Telenor conducted in the Nordics has shown that digital security is a significant concern for individuals across the r...
30/11/2022
9 minute read
Share
New Company Well-Placed to Serve the Nation and Consum...
30/11/2022
11 minute read
Share
Digi Telenor Asia
For over 20 years, Digi has emp...
25/11/2022
6 minute read
Share
What are some essential life skills for the digital age? We asked Kalaya Kovidvisith, a co-founder of Thailand's Safe Internet met...
25/11/2022
5 minute read
Share
Sayem Faruk is transforming how global companies can connect with tech talent in Bangladesh. He founded Airwrk, a game changer for his...
25/11/2022
5 minute read
Share
Last June, Pakistani entrepreneur and Telenor alumnus ...
22/11/2022
1 minute read
Share
On 22 November 2021, Telenor and CP Group announced their intention to support the amalgamation of dtac and True in Thailand.
As part...
08/11/2022
9 minute read
Share
A new mobile 5G Network on Wheels from Telenor demonst...
07/11/2022
4 minute read
Share
Sigve Brekke, President and CEO of Telenor Group, is re-elected for a seat in the GSMA Board and will, from 1 January 2023, commence h...
03/11/2022
9 minute read
Share
Advance Artificial Intelligence Research
Advance...
01/11/2022
5 minute read
Share
Research
The new head will drive Telenor's research involvement in innovation with strategic partners and customers as part of T...
31/10/2022
2 minute read
Share
By merging Telenor Digital AS (TD) and Telenor Global Services AS (TGS), Telenor establishes a global unit that combines traditional c...
28/10/2022
1 minute read
Share
Telenor and 474 civil society organizations in Myanmar...
27/10/2022
7 minute read
Share
Download full report PDF
Read the press release
Decoding changing attitudes towards mobile connectivity in South and Southeast As...
27/10/2022
8 minute read
Share
Flexible Work Digital skills Inclusion Include ...
26/10/2022
6 minute read
Share
We see positive trends for mobile service revenues in the Nordic region, with a growth of 4 percent in the third quarter , says Sigve ...
11/10/2022
5 minute read
Share
Telenor Group, a leading global telecommunications company serving 175 million customers in the Nordics and Asia, announced the format...
07/10/2022
7 minute read
Share
alt=Women walking in Lofoten, Norway. class=lazyload main main-lazyloaded responsive-image data-v-1a5ebb10>
(Fornebu 7 October 2022...
20/09/2022
4 minute read
Share
(Fornebu, 20 September 2022) Today, at its Capital Markets Day, Telenor presents significant changes to ensure growth and reshape the ...
08/09/2022
6 minute read
Share
Marie Ulven's music has brought the young artist into the global charts and created a worldwide fan base. The talented Norwegian, ...
05/09/2022
9 minute read
Share
Part One: Live
Download full report PDF
Read the press release
Survey Findings (Infographics) PDF
Decoding changing attitudes...
05/09/2022
9 minute read
Share
Part One: Live
Download full report PDF
Read the press release
Survey Findings (Infographics) PDF
Decoding changing attitudes...
05/09/2022
9 minute read
Share
Report highlights
Downloads
Report pdf
Survey Fin...
24/08/2022
7 minute read
Share
Telenor gjennomf rer endringer i konsernledelsen for styrke regionene i Norden og Asia, og oppretter i tillegg nye enheter innen inf...
24/08/2022
8 minute read
Share
Telenor is implementing changes to the Group Executive Management team to strengthen the regions in the Nordics and Asia, as well as c...
19/07/2022
5 minute read
Share
alt=Solid mobile growth class=lazyload main main-lazyloaded responsive-image data-v-1a5ebb10>
In the second quarter, we deliver per...
18/07/2022
8 minute read
Share
Sustainability Empowering Societies Include Child Online Safety Grameenphone
Include
Enabling participation for all
Inclu...
30/06/2022
12 minute read
Share
Sustainability Empowering Societies Inclusion Include Digital skills
Include
Enabling participation for all
Include mean...
29/06/2022
4 minute read
Share
Telenor Group's Malaysian subsidiary Digi.Com Berh...
16/06/2022
4 minute read
Share
Diversity Inclusion Future ready Digital skills
alt=Three people looking into camera during contract signing class=lazyload main ...
18/02/2022
Reading Time: 2 minutes
The new company, supported by sponsoring shareholders Charoen Pokphand Group ( C.P. Group ) and Telenor Group ( Telenor ), aims to mee...
02/02/2022
Reading Time: 3 minutes
During the year, Telenor has focused on safeguarding employees and providing services to customers as the demand for connectivity, di...
20/01/2022
Reading Time: 2 minutes
As part of the agreement, Telenor and AWS will invest in joint go-to-market activities in select industries-such as manufacturing, sup...
17/01/2022
Reading Time: 2 minutes
(Singapore/Oslo, 17 January 2022) Telenor Group and Yoma Strategic have entered into an agreement to sell Telenor Group's 51 perce...
03/01/2022
Reading Time: 5 minutes
2021 is yet another year of extreme weather events and record-breaking temperatures. These underline the challenges humans, wildlife, ...