
North America's Mobile Ecosystem Adding $1 Trillion Per Year to Regional GDP
Los Angeles: A new GSMA study has highlighted North America as one of the most advanced mobile regions in the world - a result of significant operator investments in 5G. The 2019 North America edition of the GSMA's Mobile Economy report series - published today at MWC Los Angeles - forecasts that almost half of the region's mobile connections will be running on new 5G networks by 2025. This is being fuelled by operator spending on new networks, which is forecast to total more than $380 billion (Capex) between 2018 and 2025. These investments are increasingly being focused on building-out 5G coverage across the region, enabling a range of new services for consumers and enterprise.
Our new study highlights how the North America region is vying for global 5G leadership with pioneering mobile markets such as China, Japan and South Korea, said Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA. Investments in next-generation networks and services by operators has helped create an industry that is now worth a trillion dollars a year to the region's economy, providing a platform for innovation, jobs and economic growth.
The new report reveals that:
There were 321 million unique mobile subscribers1 in North America in 2018, representing 83 per cent of the population. The number of subscribers is forecast to rise to 345 million (85 per cent of the population) by 2025.
The US is by far the largest market in North America (278 million unique subscribers), followed by Canada (29 million) and the Caribbean (15 million).
Around three quarters of the region's mobile connections2 are running on 4G networks.
The share of 4G connections will decline over the coming years as the market moves to 5G. New 5G networks are forecast to account for 46 per cent of connections by 2025.
Mobile technologies and services generated 4.2 per cent of North America's GDP in 2018, equivalent to $937 billion in economic value. This economic impact is forecast to increase to almost $1.2 trillion by 2023 (4.8% of GDP).
The region's mobile ecosystem also supported 2.3 million jobs (directly and indirectly) and made substantial contributions to the funding of the public sector, with almost $123 billion raised through taxation last year (not including spectrum fees).
North America's mobile sector is on track to generate $280 billion in revenue this year, a result of high levels of consumer engagement and spending on mobile services.
The new report The Mobile Economy, North America 2019' is authored by GSMA Intelligence, the research arm of the GSMA. To access the full report and related infographics, please visit: https://www.gsma.com/r/mobileeconomy/northamerica/
-ENDS-
About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators and nearly 400 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 the industry-leading MWC events held annually in Barcelona, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences.
For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.
Media Contacts:
For the GSMA:
Alicia Bardaro
ABardaro@webershandwick.com
+1 617 520 7015
GSMA Press Office
pressoffice@gsma.com
1 A unique mobile subscriber represents an individual that can account for multiple SIM connections.
2 There were 400 million SIM connections in North America in 2018, excluding cellular IoT, forecast to increase to 438 billion by 2025.
Like what you read? Share.
Most recent headlines
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
06/09/2025
(L-R) Dylan O'Brien and James Sweeney attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Twinless premiere at Eccles Theatre. (Photo by George Pimentel/Shutterstock f...
06/09/2025
LONDON Vizrt has introduced Viz Arena 6, the newest version of its all-in-one live augmented reality (AR) graphics and virtual advertising sports solution. The ...
06/09/2025
SEATTLE Amazon Web Services (AWS) will feature 56 AWS Partners making various demos that showcase the technologies and use cases shaping the future of the Media...
06/09/2025
In news that highlights the ongoing importance of video games, PBS Kids is making its first foray into gameplay content with the September 5 launch of Odd Squa...
06/09/2025
PBS chief executive Paula Kerger has sent an email to staff outlining plans to cut about 100 positions or 15% of its staff, following the loss of Federal fundin...
06/09/2025
A new era of recognition as IABM honors the people, projects and innovations driving real impact
IABM has confirmed the shortlist for the new IABM Impact Award...
06/09/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer experiences, announces new capabilities to help customers create once, adapt automaticall...
06/09/2025
Studio Technologies, a leading manufacturer of high-quality audio, video, and fiber-optic solutions, will spotlight four of its innovative audio solutions at th...
06/09/2025
DigitalGlue, creator of the award-winning creative.space managed storage platform, today announced a technology preview of Creative Intelligence (CI) powered by...
06/09/2025
Eye Filmmuseum is the Netherlands leading film museum, offering a rich variety of experiences from screenings of classic films to cultural exhibitions. With fou...
06/09/2025
The latest innovations in Grass Valley's AMPP applications will be on full display at IBC 2025, as the company brings significant updates to Playout X, its ...
06/09/2025
Disguise has announced the launch of the GX 3 , its most powerful media server ever. Built on NVIDIA's cutting-edge Blackwell GPU architecture and including...
06/09/2025
Autoscript and Autocue have announced the launch of a new advanced PTZ prompter system shared by both brands and designed to provide seamless, professional prom...
06/09/2025
Sachtler has added four new models to its award-winning aktiv and FSB Mk II fluid head ranges. The aktiv16T and aktiv18T, plus the FSB 16T Mk II and FSB 18T Mk...
06/09/2025
CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, will present its bold new vision for the fu...
06/09/2025
DHD has chosen IBC 2025 (Amsterdam, 12-15 September) as the launch venue for the latest version of its RM1 all-in-one portable audio production and broadcast sy...
06/09/2025
AJA Video Systems debuted IP25-R, a Mini-Converter for connecting SMPTE ST 2110 networks with 4K SDI/HDMI infrastructures. IP25-R lets broadcast, production, an...
06/09/2025
AJA Video Systems today introduced new products and updates ahead of the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2025 that streamline signal flow management...
06/09/2025
Researchers map key human proteins that power coronavirus replication, pointing to new treatment strategies Findings from Scripps Research reveal promising drug...
05/09/2025
Your listening habits are as unique as you are-and this year, Spotify has introduced a wave of new features to help you personalize your experience. From playli...
05/09/2025
SBS kicks off a confident slate with the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026 , premium dram...
05/09/2025
Today's Historic Settlement Underscores SBS's Powerful New Series The Pe...
05/09/2025
L3Harris Chief Financial Officer and Aerojet Rocketdyne President Ken Bedingfiel...
05/09/2025
PHILADELPHIA NBC Sports will present tonight's NFL Kickoff Game between the '25 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys on Peacock in...
05/09/2025
Warner Bros. Discovery filed a lawsuit against Gen AI company Midjourney this week, claiming that the company violated the studio's copyright....
05/09/2025
Alum Esin Ayd ng z Pens Nevermore Alma Mater' for Netflix's Wednesday The Grammy-nominated composer appears on this season's soundtrack alongside...
05/09/2025
C-SPAN and YouTube this week announced an agreement in which YouTube will sponsor C-SPAN's America 250 programming and expand access to C-SPAN's politic...
05/09/2025
LONDON Live broadcast infrastructure solutions provider Techex has added Peter Dawidzik as senior director, sales and business development....
05/09/2025
As news organizations and broadcasters face more pressure than ever to capture, verify, and distribute real-time access to breaking news, Reuters and Amazon Web...
05/09/2025
LOS ANGELES The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) today said it has begun accepting submissions for its expanded HPA Engineering Excellence Awards, which...
05/09/2025
Sage has released an update to its most recent firmware for its Digital ENDEC model 3644....
05/09/2025
LONDON and LOS ANGELES ThinkAnalytics will debut ThinkMetadataAI, the company's latest step in recommendations, search and discovery services....
05/09/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commissions Media Bureau has announced that the agency is initiating a phased process to lift the current freeze on major ...
05/09/2025
TORONTO Quickplay will feature its newly unveiled AI Studio that assists broadcasters and streamers in transforming their content libraries into short-form asse...
05/09/2025
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Announces Five-Year Partnership with The Verdon F...
05/09/2025
Alum Esin Ayding z Pens Nevermore Alma Mater' for Netflix's Wednesday The Grammy-nominated composer appears on this season's soundtrack alongside...
05/09/2025
Rohde & Schwarz UK awarded Silver Award under Defence Employer Recognition Schem...
05/09/2025
Back to All News
Two Desperate Souls and One Desperate Choice: As You Stood By...
05/09/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils New BAKI-DOU' Anime and First Look at BE...
05/09/2025
This weekend sees another feast in store for all sport fans as RT airs a jam-packed schedule of live, free-to-air sport.
The Amgen Irish Open continues all we...
04/09/2025
(Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones appear in Train Dreams by Clint Bentley, an of...
04/09/2025
SBS kicks off a confident slate with the 2026 FIFA World Cup2026 , premium drama...
04/09/2025
Watch the Record-breaking Koori Knockout 2025 LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on NITV and SBS...
04/09/2025
WALTHAM, Mass. Zixi, a provider of video-delivery-over-IP technology, has named Sue Mitchell as director of account management, EMEA....
04/09/2025
NEW YORK In news that highlights the importance of the NFL and sports for the TV and streaming industry, NBCUniversal is reporting record revenue for its 20th s...
04/09/2025
OTTAWA Ross Video has acquired LAMA, a Dutch-based developer of advanced audio production software known for its innovative live mixing solutions. The acquisiti...
04/09/2025
CINCINNATI GatesAir will bring its 5G passthrough demo to IBC audiences once again as interest in the technology's value for broadcast-to-mobile delivery gr...
04/09/2025
BURY ST. EDMUNDS, England Autoscript and Autocue will showcase their newly launched PTZ prompter system during IBC2025, Sept. 12-15 at the RAI Amsterdam Convent...
04/09/2025
Watch the Benn Family Band Perform I Wont Give Up on Americas Got Talent Assistant Professor Loren Benn and her family gave an emotional live performance of t...