MOBILE technologies and services are projected to contribute $11.3 trillion to the global economy by 2030 as artificial intelligence (AI), fifth-generation (5G) networks, and enterprise digital transformation reshape the telecommunications industry, according to a new report released by the GSM Association (GSMA), a global industry organization representing mobile network operators and companies across the mobile communications ecosystem.
The GSMA’s “The Mobile Economy 2026” report said the mobile sector generated $7.6 trillion in economic value in 2025, equivalent to 6.4 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP). That contribution is expected to increase to 8.4 percent of global GDP by the end of the decade as businesses accelerate investments in AI, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, and advanced mobile networks.
The report said the industry currently supports 8.8 billion wireless connections worldwide, including 5.8 billion unique subscribers, representing about 70 percent of the global population. Mobile technologies also supported around 50 million jobs and generated more than $800 billion in tax revenues in 2025, highlighting the sector’s growing role in the global economy.
The GSMA said AI is becoming a major growth driver for telecommunications operators, shifting from a tool used primarily to reduce operating costs to a platform for generating new revenue.
According to a GSMA Intelligence survey cited in the report, 45 percent of operators now consider AI-enabled revenue streams a strategic priority. Operators are increasingly investing in AI-powered enterprise services, cloud computing, GPU-as-a-service platforms, edge computing, and industry-specific digital solutions rather than relying solely on traditional connectivity services.
The report noted that slowing revenue growth from conventional voice and data services is pushing operators to expand into higher-value digital businesses through partnerships with hyperscale cloud providers, AI developers, and enterprise technology firms. It added that operators are repositioning themselves as providers of integrated technology platforms rather than connectivity alone.
Enterprise demand is expected to support much of that growth.
Organizations worldwide plan to invest roughly 10 percent of their revenues in digital transformation initiatives between 2025 and 2030, the report said. AI, 5G, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and IoT are expected to account for most enterprise technology spending during the period. Businesses increasingly view digital transformation as a long-term investment rather than a cost center, with AI becoming central to automation, predictive analytics, and operational efficiency.
The report also highlighted rapid growth in embedded SIM (eSIM) technology.
GSMA Intelligence projected that eSIM-enabled smartphone connections will reach 2.5 billion globally by 2028, while eSIM will account for 42 percent of all SIM technologies by 2030. The technology is expanding beyond smartphones into wearables, connected vehicles, and industrial IoT devices, allowing users to activate mobile services digitally without physical SIM cards.
Meanwhile, AI is reshaping consumer devices.
Rather than focusing solely on hardware specifications, manufacturers are increasingly differentiating smartphones, wearables, and other connected devices through AI features such as contextual assistance, personalized services, fraud detection, biometric security, and seamless integration across multiple devices. According to the report, AI capabilities are becoming a significant factor in consumer purchasing decisions and device upgrade cycles.
Despite these advances, cybersecurity remains one of the industry’s biggest challenges.
More than 90 percent of telecommunications operators now consider cyber threats to be high or very high, according to the study. Although most operators have adopted multilayered security systems and incident response plans, the rise of generative AI has increased both defensive capabilities and the sophistication of cyberattacks. AI-powered phishing, fraud, and automated attacks are becoming more common, requiring stronger governance, continuous monitoring, and greater investment in cybersecurity skills.
GSMA also emphasized the industry’s broader social role.
Mobile internet reached 58 percent of the world’s population in 2024, with about 200 million people coming online for the first time during the year. However, nearly 3 billion people remain offline despite living in areas covered by mobile broadband networks, suggesting that affordability, digital literacy, and access to devices have become greater barriers than network availability itself.
The report said mobile operators are also helping industries reduce carbon emissions through renewable-powered networks, AI-driven energy management, and more efficient cloud infrastructure while strengthening disaster preparedness through resilient communications networks, satellite connectivity, and emergency response systems.
