While mobile now supports more than 2 million jobs and underpins the digital ecosystem, key regulatory decisions in 2026 will shape Europe’s growth and competitiveness for years to come
Dublin, 12 June 2026: The impact of the mobile industry on the EU’s economy increased by 14% in 2025 to reach €1.15 trillion, according to new analysis from the GSMA.
The Mobile Economy Europe 2026 report, launched in Dublin ahead of a crucial Irish term in the presidency of the European Union, found that Europe’s mobile sector now directly accounts for 6.1% of the bloc’s GDP – up from 5.5%, or a €1.01 trillion contribution, in 2024.
The bulk of this economic success – some €820 billion – came from productivity, whereby the usage of mobile phones and mobile internet applications drives greater efficiency in accessing information, and in accelerating processes and communications. The sector’s overall economic contribution to EU GDP is now forecast to surpass €1.6 trillion by 2030.
Source: GSMA Intelligence, Mobile Economy Europe 2026 report
The findings reinforce the mobile sector’s central and direct importance in driving Europe’s growth and success and comes against the backdrop of ongoing legislative reform for the industry that will be stewarded through a critical passage by Ireland’s presidency.
An employment driver
Underpinning this economic growth was the number of jobs the mobile sector supports, numbering 2.4 million people across the EU at the end of 2025.
Of these, 1.3 million are directly employed by the mobile ecosystem, while 1.1 million jobs in other sectors are also the product of the industry’s economic activity.
The mobile industry also continued to make a substantial contribution to the funding of the EU’s public sector, with €110 billion raised through taxes on the mobile ecosystem in 2025.
Europe lagging behind
Against this backdrop, however, Europe’s quality of network service remains behind global leaders. Although 5G should become the dominant technology at some point this year, it still only represented 43% of mobile connections at the end of 2025.
While significant investment has been and continues to be made by operators across the EU – more than €140 billion has gone into mobile networks since 2021 – recent GSMA Intelligence analysis projects that €475 billion more is needed by 2035, of which only €270 billion is forecast to be accessible, leaving a €205 billion shortfall.
This investment gap reflects capex per user in Europe sitting at €35, half the €70 per user operators in leading connectivity markets have been able to invest in rolling out widespread 5G standalone networks. This is indicative of the unattractive investment conditions across Europe, the result of long-term overregulation.
Among the regulatory in the coming months are the Digital Networks Act and the Review of the Merger Guidelines. Both represent critical opportunities to improve the investment landscape in Europe, by modernising the EU regulatory framework, and by creating more dynamic conditions to achieve scale.
Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, comments: “The mobile industry’s central importance to Europe’s economy and jobs market is both clear and increasing.
“The fact that €1 in every €16 that is generated across the EU is the result of the mobile sector reflects how essential our connectivity infrastructure is, not only in accessing the broader digital ecosystem, but as an economic catalyst for European growth.
“Policy decisions made over the six months of the Irish EU presidency and into 2027 will ultimately determine how well we bolster the foundational role mobile technologies play in modern society and how well-equipped Europe’s digital ecosystem is to grow and compete with leading global markets.”
A crucial Irish presidency
The last eight years have seen a surge in data traffic across mobile networks, with demand across the EU now more than 550% higher than in 2018.
Similar exponential growth is forecast for the years ahead, particularly amid surging AI use, with a further 75% increase in data traffic expected by 2030.
As a result, continuing to invest back into networks remains a high priority. This will require improvements to Europe’s investment environment, with progress anticipated during Ireland’s presidency.
Patrick O’Donovan, Irish Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, comments: “Digital connectivity is essential for how the modern world functions and the geographical complexities of a country like Ireland mean our mobile operators do a vital job in underpinning our economy and society.
“As Ireland assumes the EU presidency, fostering conditions that allow Europe’s digital ecosystem to truly thrive is a high agenda item over the next six months. We must work with industry and policymakers to ensure opportunities are not missed to drive European competitiveness and growth.”
Nicola Cooke, Director of Ibec’s Telecommunications Industry Ireland (TII) association, comments: “We are at an important cross-roads for the industry, facing multiple challenges with the DNA and Cybersecurity Act (CSA) 2.
“TII plan to work closely with the Government, regulators and other stakeholders during Ireland’s presidency of the EU, to ensure we can work to overcome these and enable the industry to progress its investment in this vital national infrastructure.”
To read the Mobile Economy Europe 2026 report, see here.
ENDS
About the GSMA
The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
We invite you to find out more at gsma.com
Media Contact
GSMA Press Office
pressoffice@gsma.com