Mobile network operators make 85 percent of the total investment in mobile internet connectivity infrastructure globally.
They play the ‘keystone’ role in funding the networks that underpin modern digital economies worldwide, according to a new report by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) and global management consulting firm Kearney.
The report was published during the Mobile World Conference (MWC) Barcelona 2025, the world’s largest mobile technology event.
The MWC Barcelona 2025 opened on March 3 and is expected to end on March 6, 2025, on the theme “Converge. Connect. Create.
The report demonstrated that with annual investments in mobile internet infrastructure (excluding end-user devices) reaching $127 billion, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) alone contributed $109 billion.
It said mobile operators made these investments despite deriving less economic benefit than other digital ecosystem players from the critical infrastructure.
The report said, for instance, that the amount contributed by MNOs far exceeded the connectivity investments made by other groups of investors, such as cloud service providers and content and application providers.
It underscored the essential role of mobile networks in building critical infrastructure, which enabled global digital transformation, connecting billions of people to everything from banking and education to entertainment services and supporting the economic growth of industries that depend on robust connectivity.
Mr. John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer of the GSMA, said, “This report makes it clear: mobile network operators are the keystone of the internet economy, funding the vast majority of the infrastructure that enables modern digital life.”
He said while others invested in select parts of the world’s connectivity infrastructure, their contributions were a fraction of what MNOs spend to build and maintain the networks that power everything from online banking to remote work and digital entertainment.
“This study demonstrates clearly that if governments wish to unlock the full potential of their digital economies, they must prioritize policies that create a positive investment environment for MNOs,” he added.
The report comes at a crucial moment when governments worldwide are seeking to expand
digital connectivity and foster economic growth through advanced networks, including 5G and future generations of mobile technology.
The report indicated that mobile networks were indispensable to digital progress; from e-commerce and financial services to smart cities and healthcare, nearly every industry relied on mobile infrastructure.
It said infrastructure investment required the right regulatory environment, where policymakers must ensure that regulation and market conditions encouraged private investment in connectivity infrastructure.
The report said core and access networks demand significantly higher investment than backbone infrastructure, and investment in backbone infrastructure was matched by a parallel and much greater investment in core and access infrastructure, where an investment of between 8 (backbone versus core) and 19 times (backbone versus access) was higher.
It said governments should prioritize pro-investment policies to accelerate network expansion and strengthen digital economies.
Source: GNA
