GSMA-2019太平洋岛国移动经济报告（英文）-2019.7-34页_2mb

Summary of The Mobile Economy in the Pacific Islands (2019)

Core Content

The document provides an overview of the mobile economy in the Pacific Islands, highlighting the role of mobile technology in digital transformation, economic growth, and social empowerment. It discusses the current state of mobile market development, challenges in infrastructure and market structure, and the potential for mobile broadband and 5G to improve connectivity and drive innovation.

Main Points

1. Industry Overview

• Mobile Market Trends: The Pacific Islands are experiencing a gradual shift to mobile broadband, with 4G expected to account for more than half of total connections by 2023.
• Subscriber Growth: Mobile subscriber penetration remains below regional and global averages, with only 38% of the population subscribed to a mobile service at the end of 2018. By 2025, this is forecast to rise to 44%.
• Smartphone Adoption: Smartphone adoption is increasing, with the percentage of connections using smartphones expected to more than double from 30% to 65% by 2025, driven by declining prices and new affordable devices.
• Market Fragmentation: The region is highly fragmented, with most countries having only one or two mobile operators, which limits the scale and investment potential of local markets.
• Financial Growth: Mobile revenues in the region are expected to grow at a modest CAGR of 1% until 2025, but this growth is likely to be diluted by the increasing share of lower-income and remote populations.

2. Mobile as a Platform for Social Challenges and Consumer Empowerment

• Digital Inclusion: Mobile internet is a key enabler of digital inclusion, especially in regions with limited fixed broadband infrastructure. However, mobile internet penetration in the Pacific Islands remains low at 18% in 2018, and is expected to reach only 33% by 2025.
• Life-Enhancing Services: Mobile technology is being used to deliver critical services such as health and education, with examples like the Tupaia MediTrak app improving health data management across several countries.
• Financial Inclusion: Mobile money services are expanding, with nine live services in six countries. However, activity levels remain low, with less than 10% of accounts being active.
• Challenges: The region faces significant barriers to digital inclusion, including limited infrastructure, high costs, and lack of consumer readiness.

3. Spectrum and Collaboration

• Spectrum Importance: Access to sufficient spectrum is critical for improving network coverage and capacity, especially for future 5G deployment.
• WRC-19 and 5G: The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of 5G, particularly through the allocation of mmWave bands.
• Collaboration: The document emphasizes the need for collaboration between governments, regulators, and industry players to address the digital divide and support the development of a mature mobile ecosystem.

Key Information

• Mobile Connectivity Index: The Pacific Islands are in the lower clusters of the GSMA Mobile Connectivity Index, with Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands classified as emerging, and the rest as transitioning.
• Infrastructure Challenges: Many countries lack sufficient infrastructure, including the digital dividend band (700 MHz) and international internet bandwidth.
• Regional Hubs: Larger regional hubs such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu are more advanced in mobile market development, while smaller islands lag behind.
• Satellite Use: Satellite technology is used to complement mobile services, especially in remote areas, but it is unlikely to replace mobile due to cost and bandwidth limitations.
• Collaboration and Policy: The ITU and other organizations suggest that a collaborative framework is essential for the development of the region's digital economy, with the aim of improving connectivity and enabling innovation.

Conclusion

The mobile economy in the Pacific Islands is at an early stage of development, with challenges in infrastructure, market fragmentation, and financial inclusion. While there are promising trends in mobile broadband adoption and digital service delivery, significant investment and policy support are required to unlock the full potential of mobile technology in the region. Collaboration and regulatory harmonization will be crucial to achieving these goals and supporting long-term growth.