2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals September 2020 Copyright 2020 GSM AssociationThe GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators with nearly 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces the industry-leading MWC events held annually in Barcelona, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences. For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at . Follow the GSMA on Twitter: GSMA. GSMA Intelligence is the definitive source of global mobile operator data, analysis and forecasts, and publisher of authoritative industry reports and research. Our data covers every operator group, network and MVNO in every country worldwide from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. It is the most accurate and complete set of industry metrics available, comprising tens of millions of individual data points, updated daily. GSMA Intelligence is relied on by leading operators, vendors, regulators, financial institutions and third-party industry players, to support strategic decision-making and long- term investment planning. The data is used as an industry reference point and is frequently cited by the media and by the industry itself. Our team of analysts and experts produce regular thought- leading research reports across a range of industry topics. This report was authored by Published September 2020Contents Forewords 1 1. Introduction and key findings 5 2. The mobile industrys impact on the SDGs 13 2.1 Five years of progress 17 2.2 Ten years to go looking ahead to 2030 33 3. Mobiles contribution to the SDGs 49 SDG 1: No Poverty 51 SDG 2: Zero Hunger 55 SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being 59 SDG 4: Quality Education 63 SDG 5: Gender Equality 67 SDG 6 in 2019, it supported roughly 30 million jobs. The use of mobile technology has also powered a global reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that is 10 times greater than the global carbon footprint of the mobile industry itself. 2015 2019 48% 33% Introduction and key findings2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 10 MOBILE AND MOBILE INTERNET ADOPTION UNDERPIN THE INDUSTRYS IMPACT ACROSS ALL 17 SDGs THE MOBILE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO ACHIEVE ITS HIGHEST IMPACT ON SDG 9: INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, DRIVEN BY EXTENSIVE MOBILE NETWORK COVERAGE THE MOBILE INDUSTRY ACHIEVED ITS MOST IMPROVED CONTRIBUTION IN SDG 4: QUALITY EDUCATION HIGHEST IMPACT MOST IMPROVED Between 2015 and 2019, 3G population coverage increased from 83% to 92% (equivalent to 900 million additional people covered), while 4G population coverage grew from 55% to 85% (equivalent to 2.5 billion additional people covered). This infrastructure plays a vital role in stimulating inclusive and sustainable development, as well as greater innovation. This was a result of an additional 610 million individuals using mobile to access educational information for themselves or their children in 2019, taking the total to 2 billion people (equivalent to 40% of mobile subscribers). By the end of 2019, 5.1 billion people (66% of the global population) were using a mobile phone, an increase of 600 million people compared to 2015. In addition, 3.8 billion people (49% of the global population) were using mobile internet, representing an increase of 1.1 billion people since 2015. USING MOBILE TO ACCESS EDUCATION 2billion 5.1bn Introduction and key findings2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 11 Ten years to go Looking ahead to 2030 USAGE ACCOUNTS FOR 40% OF THE GAP IN THE INDUSTRY MAXIMISING ITS IMPACT ON THE SDGs THE SHIFT IN BEHAVIOUR REQUIRED TO INCREASE THE USAGE OF MOBILE- ENABLED SERVICES COULD BE OCCURRING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC When usage of mobile services grows, so does the impact on the SDGs. Unless the mobile industry and its partners act faster, we estimate that the industry will achieve around 70% of its full potential impact on the SDGs by 2030. With lockdown measures in place in many countries, individuals have become increasingly reliant on digital services. Throughout this crisis, networks have remained resilient, despite the uptick in usage, due to the investments made by mobile operators. Introduction and key findings2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 12 BUT THE PANDEMIC THREATENS TO SLOW THE INDUSTRYS PROGRESS IN OTHER AREAS EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS UNDERPIN THE INDUSTRYS ACHIEVEMENTS ON THE SDGS AND WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO ACCELERATE IMPACT For instance, the rate of mobile and mobile internet adoption could slow in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to income loss among individuals and businesses, while the economic uncertainty could also constrain 5G rollouts and enterprise funding for IoT projects. The progress made by the mobile industry on all 17 Goals would not be possible without multi-stakeholder partnerships involving the public sector, NGOs and other industries. It is vital that the current spirit of cooperation that has been fostered by the COVID-19 pandemic continues in order to meet future challenges. Introduction and key findings2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 13 The mobile industrys impact on the SDGs 02 The mobile industrys impact on the SDGs2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 14 The mobile industrys impact on the SDGs2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 15 The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how fundamental digital technologies are to societies and economies everywhere, bringing new awareness of the power and potential of a digitally enabled world. With more than 5 billion individuals using a mobile phone, and 7 billion people covered by a mobile network, the reach of mobile technology remains unparalleled. The technology provides individuals an unrivalled platform to access essential communications and life-enhancing services. With more and more people using mobile every year, the industry continues to increase its impact on all 17 SDGs. However, with 10 years left to achieve the 2030 SDG targets, it is incumbent on the mobile industry, policymakers and the wider ecosystem to act faster to maximise mobiles potential within the next decade. The mobile industrys impact on the SDGs2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 16 w Of MA AFwk,OR, f k , w w . DG T f 2,34wk. T f .W fIT . T f f- , , .Wf - . Measuring SDG Impact 9 See / This report applies the same methodology used in previous Mobile Industry Impact reports to measure the impact of the mobile industry across all 17 SDGs. For each SDG, an impact score is calculated out of 100. A score of 0 means the industry is having no impact at all, while a score of 100 means the industry is doing everything possible to contribute to that SDG. The impact scores are underpinned by two enablers: connectivity and sustainable business practices. A more detailed description is provided in the SDG Impact Methodology document. 9 The mobile industrys impact on the SDGs2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 17 In 2015, the year in which the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted, the mobile industrys average SDG impact score was 33. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure was the only SDG where the mobile industry scored greater than 40, while the industry scored below 30 on four SDGs. By 2019, the average SDG impact score across the 17 Goals had increased to 48, meaning the industry was achieving 48% of what it could potentially contribute to the SDGs. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, not only has the industry increased its impact on all SDGs every year, but the increase has been accelerating, with 2019 the most impactful thus far. There are now five SDGs where mobiles contribution is greater than 50, compared to none in 2015, while the industry is also achieving at least 40% of its potential impact on all SDGs. 2.1 Five years of progress The mobile industrys impact on the SDGs gains momentum The mobile industrys impact on the SDGs2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 18 FIGURE 1 Source: GSMA Intelligence SDG mobile impact scores The mobile industrys impact on the SDGs2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 19 The mobile industry achieved its biggest impact on SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, largely due to extensive mobile network coverage and more affordable mobile services the importance of this is reflected in SDG Target 9.c. 10 There are now 7.1 billion people around the world covered by mobile broadband networks, up from 6.2 billion in 2015. The biggest improvement has been in 4G population coverage, which increased from 55% to 85% (equivalent to 2.5 billion additional people covered) in this period. Increased coverage and adoption continue to underpin the industrys impact, especially on SDG 9 Mobile operators remain committed to reducing the coverage gap that is, people who live in areas not covered by mobile broadband networks. The coverage gap equalled around 600 million people at the end of 2019, compared to 1.3 billion people in 2015. With most of these individuals living in remote areas of low- income countries, mobile operators and their partners are working to reduce network rollout costs in order to enable further deployments. Innovations to reduce costs are a particular focus. This includes looking at the base station that provides coverage to an area, the backhaul technologies that route this traffic to the core network, and the energy components that ensure all of this can function. 11 10 SDG Target 9.c aims to significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strives to provide universal and affordable access to the internet in the least developed countries by 2020. 11 Closing the coverage gap: how innovation can drive rural connectivity, GSMA, 2019 INCREASE IN 4G POPULATION COVERAGE BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT 55% 85% 2015 2019 The mobile industrys impact on the SDGs At Verizon our purpose is to move the world forward for everyone through the power of action and technology. There has never been a more critical moment to leverage the 21st century infrastructure comprised of mobility, broadband and cloud technology to stay globally competitive and address the economic, environmental and societal issues that are most pressing around the world. Hans Vestberg, Verizon Chairman and CEO2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 20 FIGURE 2 Source: GSMA Intelligence Note: totals may not add up due to rounding Mobile connections by technology, 2019 NORTH AMERICA EUROPE LATIN AMERICA MENA ASIA PACIFIC SUB- SAHARAN AFRICA 6% 16% 31% 22% 45% 17% 12% 32% 40% 17% 46% 35% 82% 52% 29% 61% 10% 47% GLOBAL 23% 25% 51% 2G 3G 4G More generally, the continued increase in the use of mobile and mobile internet has contributed to the industrys impact across all the SDGs. By the end of 2019, 5.1 billion people (66% of the global population) were using a mobile phone, an increase of 600 million people compared to 2015. In addition, 3.8 billion people (49% of the global population) were also using mobile internet, representing an increase of 1.1 billion people since 2015. People are also connecting to higher-quality mobile networks. In 2019, 4G became the dominant mobile technology across the world with 4.1 billion connections, reaching 51% of total connections (Figure 2), up from 15% in 2015. Moreover, 3G networks accounted for 2 billion connections in 2019, equivalent to 25% of total connections. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 2019 marked the first year where there were more mobile broadband (3G or 4G) connections than 2G connections. With the rise of 4G, average download and upload speeds doubled between 2015 and 2019, while latencies more than halved. 12 This has improved the user experience on key mobile-enabled activities while also enabling individuals to access more bandwidth-intensive services, supporting the industrys impact across all 17 Goals. 12 GSMA Intelligence calculations of data provided by Ookla Speedtest Intelligence. The mobile industrys impact on the SDGs2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 21 The proportion of mobile subscribers engaging in activities on their phones relevant to the SDGs has steadily increased over the years, with an acceleration in usage taking place in 2019 across a number of Usage accelerates across key mobile-enabled services key activities (Figure 3). This is the main reason why the industrys impact increased more in 2019 than in previous years. FIGURE 3 Source: GSMA Intelligence Data is sourced from the GSMA Intelligence Consumer Insights Survey, which has more than 30,000 respondents and covers 34 countries. The number of users is calculated by multiplying unique mobile subscribers by the percentage of survey respondents that performed a particular activity (e.g. reading the news) on a mobile phone. Unique subscriber data is sourced from GSMA Intelligence, combining data reported by mobile operators with the annual GSMA Intelligence Consumer Insights Survey. Mobile usage by activity / A L/ j 3.2 3.0 2.5 2.3 2.1 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.5 1.5 490 The mobile industrys impact on the SDGs2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals 22 In 2019, an additional 610 million individuals used mobile to access educational information for themselves or their children, taking the total to 2 billion people, equivalent to 40% of mobile subscribers. This supported the industrys contribution towards SDG 4: Quality Education, which saw the biggest impact score improvement in 2019 to become the second-most impacted SDG. Delivering education remotely has become particularly important during the COVID-19 outbreak, with students accessing educational lessons via SMS, USSD or web platforms. As well as connecting students to these solutions, operators in many countries are providing free access to educational content. 13 SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being also recorded a strong improvement, with 1.6 billion individuals (32% of mobile subscribers) using mobile phones to improve or monitor their health an increase of 330 million people since 2018. This includes remote diagnostic services, whereby individuals can contact practitioners through voice, SMS and video services, as well as the distribution of health programmes via mobile to allow people to monitor their well-being. As the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified existing weaknesses and gaps in health systems, digital health solutions are likely to play an increasingly important role to address systemic challenges in healthcare services. The use of mobile financial services (such as mobile banking an