GSMA Highlights Massive 5G Revenue Potential in South Africa
GSMA highlights the significant revenue potential that 5G technology could unlock in South Africa.
5G Standalone as a Major Growth Driver for Businesses
The GSMA, a global association of mobile network operators, projects that standalone 5G (SA) will fuel 70% of business revenue growth by 2030, creating a $127 billion opportunity for the industry. GSMA CEO Mats Granryd emphasized the critical need for completing the transition to 5G SA during a keynote, citing the organization’s Mobile Economy Report 2025 which identifies 5G SA as key to unlocking the full potential of 5G-Advanced.
5G SA Deployment Gaining Momentum
The deployment of 5G SA networks is accelerating after a slow start. As of December 2024, 60 operators globally were already offering commercial services based on this architecture, with the highest numbers in Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe.
Significant Economic Impact from Mobile Technologies and Services
In 2024, mobile technologies and services contributed 5.8% to the global GDP, equivalent to $6.5 trillion. By 2030, this is expected to rise to nearly $11 trillion or 8.4% of GDP, driven by improvements in productivity and efficiency from mobile services and digital technologies, including 5G, IoT, and AI. Key sectors benefiting include:
- Manufacturing (25%)
- Accommodation and food services (17%)
- Public administration (14%)
Growing Global Adoption of Mobile Internet and 5G
As of late 2024, 58% of the global population had access to mobile internet, with projections to reach 5.5 billion users (64%) by 2030. Moreover, the number of 5G connections exceeded 2 billion in 2024, with expectations to overtake 4G by 2028 and make up half of all connections by 2030, highlighting the critical importance of transitioning to 5G SA to fully leverage this unprecedented technological and economic potential.