GSMA：2022年欧洲移动经济报告_42页_2mb

The Mobile Economy in Europe (2022)

Core Content Summary

The GSMA Intelligence report outlines the current state and future outlook of the mobile economy in Europe, emphasizing the role of mobile networks in driving economic recovery, digital transformation, and sustainability. It highlights the importance of 5G in enabling new services and technologies, while also addressing the challenges of transitioning from older networks like 4G and 2G/3G.

Main Points

Mobile Market Growth and Adoption

• Mobile adoption is still increasing, albeit at a slow pace. By 2025, Europe is expected to add 6 million new mobile subscribers, with Germany and the UK leading the growth.
• Smartphone adoption is on the rise, with 85% of mobile connections expected to be based on smartphones by 2025.
• Mobile data traffic is forecast to more than triple by 2027, driven by the increasing number of smartphone users and the demand for bandwidth-intensive applications.

5G Development and Challenges

• 5G adoption is accelerating across Europe, with nearly two-thirds of operators launching 5G networks. By 2025, 5G will account for nearly half of all mobile connections, though it will still lag behind global leaders like South Korea and the US.
• 4G remains dominant, with over half of total connections expected in 2025. The transition from 4G to 5G is influenced by the expansion of 5G coverage and the availability of 5G devices.
• 5G standalone (5G SA) is gaining traction, with commercial deployments in Finland, Germany, and Italy. Operators are investing in 5G SA to support enterprise use cases such as automation, remote maintenance, and drone surveillance.
• Challenges in 5G adoption include consumer reluctance to upgrade due to satisfaction with existing networks and the cost of 5G devices. However, these barriers are expected to diminish as more affordable devices and 5G services become available.

Economic and Social Impact

• Mobile technologies and services contributed 4.5% of GDP in Europe in 2021, generating approximately €760 billion in economic value.
• The mobile ecosystem supported 2.6 million jobs directly and an additional 1.3 million indirectly.
• Mobile operators have played a significant role in public funding, raising €109 billion through taxation in 2021.
• The mobile industry is also contributing to social progress, particularly in supporting vulnerable populations and enabling access to critical services during crises like the war in Ukraine.

Policy and Strategic Initiatives

• Policymakers are encouraged to support private investment in infrastructure and digital innovation to ensure the financial sustainability of the mobile sector.
• Key policy recommendations include:
  • Revising competition policy to promote investment and innovation.
  • Allocating network traffic costs fairly to incentivize efficient usage.
  • Fostering supply-chain diversity and network security through disaggregation and interoperability.
  • Adjusting the regulatory framework to support the data economy.
  • Implementing fair spectrum licensing to avoid barriers to investment.
  • Simplifying network deployment processes to meet the Digital Decade connectivity targets.

Renewable Energy and Sustainability

• European operators are leading the way in renewable energy use, with several already achieving 100% renewable electricity for their operations.
• Partnerships with renewable energy providers are helping operators reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy efficiency.
• Examples include:
  • Vodafone and Repsol forming a solar community to power homes.
  • Telefonica launching a joint venture with Repsol to develop solar photovoltaic panels.
  • BT, KPN, Proximus, Swisscom, Telia, and Vodafone investing in power purchase agreements (PPAs) to support sustainable operations.

Key Trends and Innovations

• Network slicing is advancing, particularly for enterprise applications, offering customised network capabilities for specific use cases.
• The metaverse is emerging as a key area for 5G innovation, with operators like Deutsche Telekom and SK Telecom collaborating to develop virtual content.
• Edge computing and massive IoT are expected to become more prominent in enterprise marketing strategies as 5G adoption grows.

Conclusion

The mobile economy in Europe is poised to play a significant role in economic recovery, digital transformation, and sustainability. While 5G adoption is growing, challenges remain in terms of consumer uptake and network transition. The industry is increasingly focusing on renewable energy, enterprise services, and innovative technologies to drive future growth and meet societal needs.