{"id":23354,"date":"2025-03-03T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/?p=23354"},"modified":"2026-02-04T12:36:58","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T12:36:58","slug":"mobile-operators-account-for-85-of-investments-in-mobile-internet-connectivity-infrastructure-new-gsma-report-reveals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/press-release\/mobile-operators-account-for-85-of-investments-in-mobile-internet-connectivity-infrastructure-new-gsma-report-reveals\/","title":{"rendered":"Mobile operators account for 85% of investments in mobile internet connectivity infrastructure, new GSMA report reveals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Governments should prioritise pro-investment policies to accelerate network expansion and strengthen digital economies<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3<\/strong><strong><sup>rd<\/sup><\/strong><strong> March 2025, Barcelona<\/strong>: Mobile Network Operators make 85% of the total investment in mobile internet connectivity infrastructure globally, playing the \u2018keystone\u2019 role in funding the networks that underpin modern digital economies worldwide, according to a new report by the GSMA and global management consulting firm Kearney.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The report was published as leaders from across the mobile ecosystem gather at MWC Barcelona, the world\u2019s largest mobile technology event. The report demonstrates that with annual investments in mobile internet infrastructure (excluding end-user devices) reaching $127 billion, MNOs alone contribute $109 billion. Mobile operators make these investments despite deriving less economic benefit than other digital ecosystem players from this critical infrastructure. For example, the amount contributed by MNOs far exceeds the connectivity investments made by other groups of investors such as cloud service providers and content and application providers (CAPs).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The report underscores the essential role of mobile networks in building critical infrastructure which enables 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.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer of the GSMA, said: <em>\u201cThis 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. Whilst others invest in select parts of the world\u2019s connectivity infrastructure, their contributions are 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 prioritise policies that create a positive investment environment for MNOs.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Call for Policy Action<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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 findings paint a picture of the investment landscape which reveals:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Mobile networks are indispensable to digital progress: <\/strong>From e-commerce and financial services to smart cities and healthcare, nearly every industry relies on mobile infrastructure.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Infrastructure investment requires the right regulatory environment: <\/strong>Policymakers must ensure that regulation and market conditions encourage private investment in connectivity infrastructure.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Core and access networks demand significantly higher investment than backbone infrastructure:<\/strong> Investment in Backbone infrastructure is matched by a parallel and much greater investment in Core and Access infrastructure &#8211; an investment of between 8 (Backbone versus Core) and 19 times (Backbone versus Access) higher.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To support continued network expansion and innovation, the GSMA urges governments to adopt forward-looking regulatory frameworks that encourage investment in mobile infrastructure, streamline spectrum policies, and create a fair and sustainable financial environment for operators.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mobile Networks: The Foundation of the Internet Economy<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The report highlights that despite limited investment by other players in the connectivity ecosystem, such as cloud and content providers, in backbone and content delivery networks (CDNs), these investments do not replace the need for substantial mobile infrastructure investment by mobile network operators. The core and access networks, which are fully funded by MNOs, remain fundamental to a functioning, capable internet which serves the needs of consumers and businesses worldwide, fuelling growth across the broader digital ecosystem.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the industry gathers at MWC Barcelona, this research reinforces the need for a collaborative approach to infrastructure development &#8211; one that ensures mobile operators operate under the right conditions to continue investing in networks that drive economic growth and digital inclusion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information and to access the full report, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/public-policy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mobile-Infrastructure-Investmhttps:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/public-policy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mobile-Infrastructure-Investment-Landscape-1.pdfent-Landscape.pdf\">https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/public-policy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mobile-Infrastructure-Investment-Landscape-1.pdf.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>-ENDS-&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About GSMA<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world\u2019s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We invite you to find out more at\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gsma.com<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Media Contacts<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GSMA Press Office &nbsp;<br \/><a href=\"mailto:pressoffice@gsma.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pressoffice@gsma.com<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Governments should prioritise pro-investment policies to accelerate network expansion and strengthen digital economies&nbsp; 3rd March 2025, Barcelona: Mobile Network Operators make 85% of the total investment in mobile internet connectivity infrastructure globally, playing the \u2018keystone\u2019 role in funding the networks that underpin modern digital economies worldwide, according to a new report by the GSMA and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":23355,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"algolia_discover_type":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.0 (Yoast SEO v22.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Mobile operators account for 85% of investments in mobile internet connectivity infrastructure, new GSMA report reveals - Newsroom<\/title>\n<meta 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