Communications & high tech

Economic significance of Asia Pacific mobile operators and customers

Figure 1: Mobile ecosystem value add in AP17

The mobile ecosystem contributes significantly to the Asia Pacific economy. The economic contributions of the Asia Pacific mobile ecosystem, comprising the 17 largest countries, amount to approximately $368 billion, or 2.82 percent of aggregate GDP.

This ecosystem contributes more than $100 billion in public funding and employs more than 10 million people. See the attached figures with more details about the mobile ecosystem contributions to the economy, employment, and public funding.

The mobile industry is also having a positive impact on environmental sustainability and social development:

Figure 2: Mobile ecosystem contribution to employment in AP17

Environmental sustainability – Operators in Asia Pacific are taking an increasing role in mitigating the effects of climate change. To reduce emissions, mobile operators and vendors in Asia Pacific are finding new ways to improve energy efficiency by designing low energy base station sites, deploying base-stations powered by renewable energy, implementing infrastructure optimization and sharing, and reducing mobile device life cycle emissions through design and recycling

Figure 3: Mobile ecosystem contribution to public funding in AP17

Social development – Mobile operators are also having a profound impact on social development, employing innovative corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs largely focused on education, health and community development

An information-rich report, “Asia Pacific Mobile Observatory,” further documents the significance of the industry for the Asia Pacific region. This research was conducted by the Mobile Observatory, an initiative between GSMA and A.T. Kearney, to develop a robust fact base to support targeted advocacy but also to project the transparency which is demanded by modern consumer groups, journalists and politicians.

Learn more

To learn more about the scope and outlook of the Asia Pacific mobile market, read the research report by the GSMA and A.T. Kearney: Asia Pacific Mobile Observatory — The Parallel Development Paths of the Mobile Industry in Asia Pacific

To read a recent commentary on the Asia Pacific mobile industry, see The Asia Pacific Mobile Observatory by John Kurtz

Media Highlights

GSMA Shines Spotlight on Asian Mobile Industry at 2009 Mobile Asia Congress
17 November 2009 — PR newswire
On the eve of the 2009 Mobile Asia Congress, the GSMA, the body that represents the worldwide mobile communications industry, issued key findings that underscore the strength and success of the Asia Pacific mobile industry. The GSMA today released its Asia Pacific Mobile Observatory Report, which shows that since 2003, the Asia Pacific market has more than tripled in size, adding over a billion connections and growing at 26% CAGR(1) to reach 1.7 billion connections in 2008.