By the end of 2030, the GSMA envisions a tenfold surge in 5G connections throughout the Asia Pacific, reaching a total of 1.4 billion connections. This remarkable growth will be driven by a decrease in the price of compatible devices and the rapid expansion of networks in numerous countries.
The Mobile Economy APAC 2023 report by GSMA predicts that government efforts to integrate mobile-enabled technologies into various aspects of society will be the driving force behind this growth.
According to GSMA's projections, 5G penetration will increase from 4 percent at the end of 2022 to 41 percent by the end of 2030.
Although mature markets like Australia, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea lead in 5G mobile innovation, barriers continue to hinder overall mobile access and usage in several APAC countries.
GSMA emphasized that almost half of the region's population is connected to mobile internet, but 47 percent of those who have access to services remain disconnected.
Reasons such as inadequate digital skills, particularly among older populations, affordability of devices and services, and concerns about online safety are hindering the uptake of mobile services.
Julian Gorman, the Head of APAC at GSMA, explained that the connectivity sector in the region is highly diverse, comprising both pioneering mobile innovators and emerging markets.
"The region boasts some of the world's fastest-growing 5G markets, notably India, which is poised to add tens of millions of 5G connections in 2023. However, across APAC, we also witness some of the world's most significant disparities in mobile internet usage."
To bridge the digital divide, especially for women and vulnerable populations, Gorman stressed the need for the industry to establish a flexible, forward-looking regulatory and policy framework to support mobile network deployment and operations.
The Mobile Economy APAC report was released today (24 July) during an event in Singapore, hosted by GSMA and Singtel.
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