GSMA – Mobile Economy APAC, 2024

The mobile industry in Asia Pacific is driving rapid digital transformation with advanced networks supporting innovative use cases. By the end of 2023, 1.8 billion people (63% of the population) in the region had mobile subscriptions, with over 1.4 billion using mobile internet. However, there is still a significant portion of the population without access, creating a usage gap that needs to be addressed to bridge the digital divide. Mobile technologies contributed 5.3% to Asia Pacific's GDP in 2023, amounting to $880 billion and supporting 13 million jobs. The focus is now shifting towards advanced 5G networks and services, with 5G-Advanced and RedCap technologies being developed to enable new solutions for enterprises. Operators are also working together through initiatives like the GSMA Open Gateway to drive API progress and create standardized network APIs for commercial use. The aim is to unlock new revenue streams and drive innovation in both consumer and enterprise segments.