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\n\tThe bulk of this economic success \u2013 some \u20ac820 billion \u2013 came from productivity, whereby the usage of mobile phones and mobile internet applications drives greater efficiency in accessing information, and in accelerating processes and communications. The sector\u2019s overall economic contribution to EU GDP is now forecast to surpass \u20ac1.6 trillion by 2030.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe findings reinforce the mobile sector\u2019s central and direct importance in driving Europe\u2019s growth and success and comes against the backdrop of ongoing legislative reform for the industry that will be stewarded through a critical passage by Ireland\u2019s presidency.<\/p>\n
\n\tAn employment driver<\/p>\n
\n\tUnderpinning this economic growth was the number of jobs the mobile sector supports, numbering 2.4 million people across the EU at the end of 2025.<\/p>\n
\n\tOf these, 1.3 million are directly employed by the mobile ecosystem, while 1.1 million jobs in other sectors are also the product of the industry\u2019s economic activity.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe mobile industry also continued to make a substantial contribution to the funding of the EU\u2019s public sector, with \u20ac110 billion raised through taxes on the mobile ecosystem in 2025.<\/p>\n
\n\tEurope lagging behind<\/p>\n
\n\tAgainst this backdrop, however, Europe\u2019s quality of network service remains behind global leaders. Although 5G should become the dominant technology at some point this year, it still only represented 43% of mobile connections at the end of 2025.<\/p>\n
\n\tWhile significant investment has been and continues to be made by operators across the EU \u2013 more than \u20ac140 billion has gone into mobile networks since 2021 \u2013 recent GSMA Intelligence analysis projects that \u20ac475 billion more is needed by 2035, of which only \u20ac270 billion is forecast to be accessible, leaving a \u20ac205 billion shortfall.<\/p>\n
\n\tThis investment gap reflects capex per user in Europe sitting at \u20ac35, half the \u20ac70 per user operators in leading connectivity markets have been able to invest in rolling out widespread 5G standalone networks. This is indicative of the unattractive investment conditions across Europe, the result of long-term overregulation.<\/p>\n
\n\tAmong the regulatory in the coming months are the Digital Networks Act and the Review of the Merger Guidelines. Both represent critical opportunities to improve the investment landscape in Europe, by modernising the EU regulatory framework, and by creating more dynamic conditions to achieve scale.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe mobile industry\u2019s central importance to Europe\u2019s economy and jobs market is both clear and increasing.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe fact that \u20ac1 in every \u20ac16 that is generated across the EU is the result of the mobile sector reflects how essential our connectivity infrastructure is, not only in accessing the broader digital ecosystem, but as an economic catalyst for European growth.<\/p>\n
\n\tPolicy decisions made over the six months of the Irish EU presidency and into 2027 will ultimately determine how well we bolster the foundational role mobile technologies play in modern society and how well-equipped Europe\u2019s digital ecosystem is to grow and compete with leading global markets.<\/p>\n
\n\tA crucial Irish presidency<\/p>\n
\n\tThe last eight years have seen a surge in data traffic across mobile networks, with demand across the EU now more than 550% higher than in 2018.<\/p>\n
\n\tSimilar exponential growth is forecast for the years ahead, particularly amid surging AI use, with a further 75% increase in data traffic expected by 2030.<\/p>\n
\n\tAs a result, continuing to invest back into networks remains a high priority. This will require improvements to Europe\u2019s investment environment, with progress anticipated during Ireland\u2019s presidency.<\/p>\n
\n\tPatrick O\u2019Donovan, Irish Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, comments: \u201cDigital connectivity is essential for how the modern world functions and the geographical complexities of a country like Ireland mean our mobile operators do a vital job in underpinning our economy and society.<\/p>\n
\n\tAs Ireland assumes the EU presidency, fostering conditions that allow Europe\u2019s digital ecosystem to truly thrive is a high agenda item over the next six months. We must work with industry and policymakers to ensure opportunities are not missed to drive European competitiveness and growth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tNicola Cooke, Director of Ibec\u2019s Telecommunications Industry Ireland (TII) association, comments: \u201cWe are at an important cross-roads for the industry, facing multiple challenges with the DNA and Cybersecurity Act (CSA) 2.<\/p>\n
\n\tTII plan to work closely with the Government, regulators and other stakeholders during Ireland\u2019s presidency of the EU, to ensure we can work to overcome these and enable the industry to progress its investment in this vital national infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\tVivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA<\/p>\n
\n\t\tThe mobile industry\u2019s central importance to Europe\u2019s economy and jobs market is both clear and increasing. The fact that \u20ac1 in every \u20ac16 that is generated across the EU is the result of the mobile sector reflects how essential our connectivity infrastructure is, not only in accessing the broader digital ecosystem, but as an economic catalyst for European growth.\u00a0Policy decisions made over the six months of the Irish EU presidency and into 2027 will ultimately determine how well we bolster the foundational role mobile technologies play in modern society and how well-equipped Europe\u2019s digital ecosystem is to grow and compete with leading global markets.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tPatrick O\u2019Donovan, Irish Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport<\/p>\n
\n\t\tDigital connectivity is essential for how the modern world functions and the geographical complexities of a country like Ireland mean our mobile operators do a vital job in underpinning our economy and society.\u00a0As Ireland assumes the EU presidency, fostering conditions that allow Europe\u2019s digital ecosystem to truly thrive is a high agenda item over the next six months. We must work with industry and policymakers to ensure opportunities are not missed to drive European competitiveness and growth.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tNicola Cooke, Director of Ibec\u2019s Telecommunications Industry Ireland (TII) association<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWe are at an important cross-roads for the industry, facing multiple challenges with the DNA and Cybersecurity Act (CSA) 2.\u00a0TII plan to work closely with the Government, regulators and other stakeholders during Ireland\u2019s presidency of the EU, to ensure we can work to overcome these and enable the industry to progress its investment in this vital national infrastructure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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