{"id":357406,"date":"2025-08-04T14:54:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T09:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/?p=357406"},"modified":"2025-08-04T14:54:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T09:24:18","slug":"new-report-warns-of-rising-scams-and-spectrum-costs-as-5g-poised-to-reach-50-of-all-mobile-connections-in-asia-pacific-by-2030","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.technologyforyou.org\/new-report-warns-of-rising-scams-and-spectrum-costs-as-5g-poised-to-reach-50-of-all-mobile-connections-in-asia-pacific-by-2030\/","title":{"rendered":"New report warns of rising scams and spectrum costs as 5G poised to reach 50% of all mobile connections in Asia Pacific by 2030"},"content":{"rendered":"

Asia Pacific\u2019s Mobile Sector Adds $950 Billion to GDP; On Track to Reach $1.4 Trillion by 2030, GSMA Report Reveals.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

23 July 2025, Singapore:<\/strong>\u00a0Mobile technologies and services added US $950 billion to Asia Pacific\u2019s economy in 2024 \u2013 equivalent to 5.6% of regional GDP \u2013 according to the\u00a0Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2025<\/em>\u00a0report<\/strong> published recently by the GSMA. Unveiled at the GSMA\u2019s Digital Nation Summit Singapore 2025, the report forecasts this contribution will rise to US $1.4 trillion by 2030, as 5G, IoT and artificial intelligence continue to accelerate digital transformation across the region.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond direct economic impact, the mobile ecosystem supported around 16 million jobs last year (11 million directly and a further 5 million in adjacent industries), and generated more than $90 billion in public funding, excluding spectrum and regulatory fees. Operators invested nearly $220 billion in 5G networks between 2019 and 2024, with a further $254 billion committed through to 2030. However, the study cautions that rising spectrum costs and investment gaps \u2013 particularly in rural and emerging markets \u2013 could slow progress unless governments and industry act together to create more enabling conditions for network expansion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific at the GSMA<\/strong>\u00a0commented: \u201cMobile connectivity is the oxygen of Asia Pacific\u2019s digital transformation \u2013 driving economic growth, innovation and inclusion. Yet our findings sound clear alarms: spectrum charges have tripled over the last decade, and 48% of the population remain offline. To sustain momentum, we need decisive action \u2013 affordable spectrum, smarter financing and collective action to tackle scams and cyber-threats.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The report explores the trends shaping Asia Pacific\u2019s collective digital future, including the push to monetise 5G, the emergence of a \u2018scam economy\u2019 that siphoned over $1 trillion from consumers globally in 2024, and the widening cybersecurity threat landscape as 5G and IoT expand the attack surface. To tackle these threats, operators are deploying AI-driven fraud detection systems, adopting zero-trust architectures, and forming cross-sector taskforces. One such initiative is the GSMA-led Asia Pacific Cross-Sector Anti-Scam Taskforce (ACAST), launched to unite mobile operators and digital platforms across 16 countries in a collaborative fight against scams through intelligence sharing, public awareness and technical innovation. GSMA Open Gateway \u2013 the global initiative to standardise network APIs \u2013 is also playing a growing role in the fight against fraud, enabling developers and enterprises to embed advanced identity and security features directly into digital services. These efforts are essential to protect users, strengthen trust, and safeguard the full potential of the digital economy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From a policy perspective,\u00a0Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2025<\/em>\u00a0stresses that bridging the investment gap, implementing sustainable spectrum strategies and fostering innovation-friendly regulation will be crucial to realising the region\u2019s digital ambitions. Fiscal incentives, targeted public funding and infrastructure-sharing can accelerate rollouts in underserved areas, while flexible, technology-neutral regulation will allow new services to flourish without compromising consumer protections. Clear spectrum roadmaps \u2013 especially in low- and mid-bands \u2013 combined with sustainable pricing models will be essential for continued 5G rollout and laying the foundation for 6G.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Key findings from the Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2025<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n