Mobile technologies and services added US $950 billion to Asia Pacific’s economy in 2024 – equivalent to 6.1% of regional GDP – according to the Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2025 report published today by the GSMA. Unveiled at the GSMA’s Digital Nation Summit Singapore 2025, the report forecasts this contribution will rise to US $1.4 trillion by 2030, as 5G, IoT and artificial intelligence continue to accelerate digital transformation across the region.
Beyond direct economic impact, the mobile ecosystem supported around 17 million jobs last year (11 million directly and a further 6 million in adjacent industries), and generated more than $90 billion in public funding, excluding spectrum and regulatory fees. Operators invested nearly $220 billion in 5G networks between 2019 and 2024, with a further $254 billion committed through to 2030. However, the study cautions that rising spectrum costs and investment gaps – particularly in rural and emerging markets – could slow progress unless governments and industry act together to create more enabling conditions for network expansion.
The report explores the trends shaping Asia Pacific’s collective digital future, including the push to monetise 5G, the emergence of a ‘scam economy’ that siphoned over $1 trillion from consumers globally in 2024, and the widening cybersecurity threat landscape as 5G and IoT expand the attack surface. To tackle these threats, operators are deploying AI-driven fraud detection systems, adopting zero-trust architectures, and forming cross-sector taskforces. One such initiative is the GSMA-led Asia Pacific Cross-Sector Anti-Scam Taskforce (ACAST), launched to unite mobile operators and digital platforms across 16 countries in a collaborative fight against scams through intelligence sharing, public awareness and technical innovation. GSMA Open Gateway – the global initiative to standardise network APIs – is also playing a growing role in the fight against fraud, enabling developers and enterprises to embed advanced identity and security features directly into digital services. These efforts are essential to protect users, strengthen trust, and safeguard the full potential of the digital economy.
From a policy perspective, Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2025 stresses that bridging the investment gap, implementing sustainable spectrum strategies and fostering innovation-friendly regulation will be crucial to realising the region’s digital ambitions. Fiscal incentives, targeted public funding and infrastructure-sharing can accelerate rollouts in underserved areas, while flexible, technology-neutral regulation will allow new services to flourish without compromising consumer protections. Clear spectrum roadmaps – especially in low- and mid-bands – combined with sustainable pricing models will be essential for continued 5G rollout and laying the foundation for 6G.
Key findings from the Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2025
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Economic impact: $950 billion added to regional GDP in 2024; forecast to reach $1.4 trillion by 2030. -
Share of GDP: 6.1% in 2024, projected to rise to 6.6% in 2030. -
Employment: 11 million direct and 6 million indirect jobs supported in 2024. -
Public revenues: Over $90 billion generated for governments in 2024 (excluding spectrum and regulatory fees). -
5G adoption: 18% of mobile connections on 5G in 2024, expected to rise to 50% by 2030. -
Investment: Operators committed $220 billion on 5G networks from 2019–2024; $254 billion planned through 2030. -
Connectivity gap: Asia–Pacific has the ninth-largest mobile usage gap globally; 55 million Filipinos alone remain offline, and scam-related losses are escalating across the region. -
Rising costs: Spectrum cost-to-revenue ratios have increased from 3% in 2014 to 9% in 2023, limiting funds available for further expansion.
Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific at the GSMA
Mobile connectivity is the oxygen of Asia Pacific’s digital transformation – driving economic growth, innovation and inclusion. Yet our findings sound clear alarms: spectrum charges have tripled over the last decade, and over 700 million people remain offline. To sustain momentum, we need decisive action – affordable spectrum, smarter financing and collective action to tackle scams and cyber-threats
