Despite Mobile broadband coverage in 96% of the region, it has the largest regional usage gap worldwide
7 July 2022, Singapore: The GSMA has published its latest Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2022 report, which delivers a detailed picture of the region's adoption of mobile internet. At present, mobile broadband networks cover around 96% of the population, a testament to operators' investment in 3G, 4G and, increasingly, 5G infrastructure. However, just 44% of the population (1.23 billion users) are using mobile internet services.
The reasons for this discrepancy include lack of digital skills, affordability and online safety concerns. This year's report outlines how countries are addressing this usage gap.
Addressing the usage gap and extending the benefits of the internet to more people in society is critical, said GSMA's Head of Asia Pacific, Julian Gorman. However, it will require a concerted effort by a broad range of stakeholders, working together with mobile operators and other ecosystem players such as device manufacturers and digital content creators, to drive adoption and overcome the barriers we see today.
Mobile delivers economic and societal benefits
Mobile technologies and services continue to make a significant contribution to Asia Pacific's economy, generating 5% of GDP in the region in 2021, which equates to around $770 billion of economic value. This ecosystem supported approximately 8.8 million jobs in 2021 and made a substantial contribution to the funding of the public sector, with around $80 billion raised through taxation.
400 million 5G connections by 2025
5G adoption is set to accelerate across the Asia Pacific region as the technology's footprint expands. Today, it is commercially available in 14 markets, with others, including India and Vietnam, going live in the coming months.
According to the report, by 2025, there will be more than 400 million 5G connections, equivalent to just over 14% of total mobile connections. Progress is more advanced in countries like Australia, Japan and South Korea and in Singapore 5G is expected to account for 55% of the country's connections by 2025.
Metaverse momentum in Asia Pacific
The report also explores the advent of the metaverse and highlights various 5G use cases and other related activities in the region.
Notably, government bodies in the region have started outlining plans to harness the potential of the platform to increase the efficiency and quality of public services. South Korea has plans to spend $186.7 million to create its metaverse ecosystem, and Thailand's Tourism Authority leveraged the technology to boost tourism in the country.
Policies for digital innovation
Policymakers and regulators can fuel growth and innovation by establishing a flexible forward-looking regulatory regime to support mobile network deployment and operations. The report provides insights on focus areas where regulatory reforms would yield maximum rewards for the region.
Mobile 360 Asia Pacific in Singapore
APAC's adoption of 5G will be centre stage at the GSMA's Mobile 360 Asia Pacific conference on 2-3 August 2022 at the JW Marriott South Beach Hotel in Singapore. The two-day agenda will include thought-provoking keynotes and discussions on how a digital nation strategy is essential in the post-pandemic global economy.
For more information visit www.mobile360series.com/asia-pacific. You can also follow developments on Twitter @GSMA using the hashtag #Mobile360 or www.linkedin.com/showcase/gsma-mobile-360-series.
-ENDS-
About GSMA
The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today's biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
We invite you to find out more at gsma.com
Media Contacts
GSMA Press Office
pressoffice@gsma.com
Like what you read? Share.
More from GSMA
26/03/2024
GSMA welcomes CITIC Telecom, Huawei and ZTE as Channel Partners
26 March 2024, Beijing: China's three leading mobile operators - China Mobile, China Telec...
26/03/2024
At the Post-MWC Sharing Event in Beijing, leaders from the GSMA contextualised t...
20/03/2024
A new digital infrastructure framework that fosters investment, innovation, and ...
19/03/2024
New GSMA report finds mobile money is fueling economic growth and expansion of financial services in Sub-Saharan Africa.
19 March 2024, London: Mobile money ...
12/03/2024
NEW YORK, MARCH 12, 2024 - The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF), a five...
04/03/2024
MWC Barcelona brought together connectivity leaders from 205 countries and territories, exploring industry topics including AI, the usage gap, GSMA Open Gateway...
28/02/2024
Industry opportunities driven by developments in 5G Standalone, 5G-Advanced, ent...
27/02/2024
The GSMA Equipment Marketplace cloud-based platform will help telecommunication ...
27/02/2024
The GSMA's 2024 Mobile Net Zero report spotlights regional leaders in cuttin...
27/02/2024
Six-time and reigning African Women's Footballer of the Year uses MWC Barcel...
26/02/2024
Deutsche Telekom, O2 Telef nica and Vodafone are launching SIM Swap and Number V...
26/02/2024
More than 40 mobile operator networks across five continents have now commercial...
26/02/2024
MWC Barcelona 2024 welcomes the most iconic names in connectivity for nine keyno...
26/02/2024
New phase of the strategic partnership to support GSMA Mobile for Development...
22/02/2024
Telecommunications operators Cell C, MTN, and Telkom welcome launch of two unive...
22/02/2024
Jakarta, 22 February 2024. As part of the global GSMA Open Gateway initiative, f...
06/02/2024
Orange, Telefonica, and Vodafone will open their mobile networks to developers w...
25/01/2024
Speakers include leaders from Accenture, Dell Technologies, Microsoft and the United Nations; as well as Nobel Prize laureate, Sir Konstantin Sergeevich Novosel...
15/12/2023
Spectrum decisions at the ITU's World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 clear the path for a bright digital future for billions worldwide
15th December 2...
11/12/2023
Applications for the GSMA's Humanitarian Innovation Fund, which has distributed over £5 million since 2017, are now open to start-ups, SMEs and social enter...
08/12/2023
The new report from the GSMA, published at its Indonesia Digital Nations Summit ...
05/12/2023
The GSMA celebrates the start of proceedings with the publication of its annual ...
28/11/2023
With this initiative, Claro, TIM, and Vivo will open their networks to developer...
23/11/2023
The GSMA's annual European Mobile Economy Report shows that mobile contribut...
09/11/2023
New GSMA Intelligence research reveals mobile spectrum costs in Indonesia have r...
17/10/2023
The GSMA shared the findings of its annual Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa Rep...
11/10/2023
The GSMA's sixth annual State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report includes several first-time pieces of global and regional analysis, including the numbe...
09/10/2023
Secure your spot and register today to attend MWC Kigali, 17-19 October 2023
9 October 2023, London: The GSMA is delighted to announce that His Excellency Pau...
29/09/2023
The 2023 edition of GSMA MWC Las Vegas saw a rise in attendees from vertical ind...
26/09/2023
5G set to become the dominant mobile technology in North America by the end of 2...
18/09/2023
World's largest and most influential connectivity event also exceeded pre-ev...
16/09/2023
The GSMA's eighth SDG impact report, published at the halfway point to the 2...
07/09/2023
The annual conference opens with the launch of the GSMA's Digital Societies in Asia Pacific Report
7 September 2023, Seoul: The GSMA M360 APAC event return...
07/09/2023
M360 GSMA
2023 9 7 , : GSMA M360 APAC . KT . ...
27/07/2023
Registration is open for MWC Las Vegas press passes
27 July 2023, London: The G...
25/07/2023
However, despite 96% mobile broadband coverage across the region, barriers in ce...
24/07/2023
Asia Pacific to see tenfold rise in 5G mobile connections by 2030 as digital transformation gathers pace, GSMA report reveals
However, despite 96% mobile broad...
12/07/2023
New Collaboration Will Look to Accelerate Advancements in Satellite and Terrestrial Communications Network Integration
12 July 2023, OXFORDSHIRE: The GSMA and ...
30/06/2023
MWC Shanghai 2023 welcomed nearly 37,000 delegates from 115 countries and territ...
28/06/2023
MWC Shanghai convenes global leaders from the mobile ecosystem at the SNIEC to celebrate the first fully in-person iteration of the event since 2019
28 June 20...
27/06/2023
12 leading global operators and the GSMA agree pace-setting ambitions in the ind...
26/06/2023
Global initiative to help mobile industry, developers and cloud providers collaborate on development of universal network APIs now supported across all continen...
25/06/2023
25 June 2023, Shanghai: The GSMA today hosted a press conference ahead of MWC Sh...
31/05/2023
The sixth annual Mobile Gender Gap Report evaluates mobile ownership and mobile ...
19/05/2023
Brussels, London, 19 May 2023 - The GSMA and ETNO, industry associations represe...
Despite Mobile broadband coverage in 96% of the region, it has the largest regional usage gap worldwide
