GSMA
8.10.2019 08:02:12 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
Russia will lead the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)1 in the commercialisation of 5G services, with the region’s other markets all launching 5G networks by 2025, according to the GSMA’s Mobile Economy: Russia & CIS 2019 report, which was published today at the Mobile 360 Series – Eurasia event in Moscow. The CIS region will have around 54 million 5G connections by 2025, an adoption rate of 13 per cent. Operators are forecast to invest $39 billion in mobile infrastructure between 2019 and 2025, of which over 70 per cent will be 5G-specific.
“5G networks have the potential to transform the digital economy for businesses and citizens alike and our latest report highlights how Russia and the CIS region is preparing to enter this exciting new era,” said Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA. “However, in order to capitalise on the tremendous potential of 5G in driving socio-economic growth, regional governments and regulators must adopt policies, such as access to spectrum, that encourage inward investment and encourage the development of the mobile industry.”
4G Networks Growing, Subscriber Adds Slowing
The CIS region had 235 million unique mobile subscribers at the end of 2018, with Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan together accounting for 80 per cent. The region has a high unique subscriber penetration rate of 81 per cent, notably in Russia which is approaching saturation point. Future growth will be limited to less than 9 million new unique subscribers in the CIS by 2025. However, the region is also seeing an accelerated shift to mobile broadband driven by greater demand for data-intensive services and higher speeds. 4G is set to become the region’s leading mobile technology in 2021, and will account for over two-thirds of total connections in 2025.
Policies to Support the Digital Economy
The report highlights how delivering 5G connectivity will increase capital intensity for operators, while current uncertainty around spectrum access could be a potential barrier to releasing value into the digital economy. 5G networks have the potential to underpin a range of innovative solutions for businesses and consumers; however, policymakers should also harness the power of 5G to drive growth and the transformation of traditional industries. The regulatory framework should foster the mobile industry’s development within an environment that is conducive to investment. This should be underpinned by a comprehensive national 5G development plan.
Mobile Contributing to the Economy and Employment
The mobile industry contributed $101 billion or 4.7 per cent of GDP to the CIS regional economy in 2018, which is forecast to increase to $122 billion (5.1 per cent of GDP) by 2023. In 2018, the industry contributed 620,000 jobs through direct employment or indirectly through activity in the wider economy. An additional $12 billion was raised in 2018 via general taxation. 5G-related technologies are expected to contribute $34 billion to regional economy over the next 15 years.
Regional Innovation Underpinned by Mobile Connectivity
The report also highlights the potential for operators to expand their businesses beyond traditional communications in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT), where smart homes and smart buildings will be two key growth verticals out to 2025. The mobile industry is also exploring and implementing applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technologies, as well as injecting greater funds into the start-up ecosystem to protect itself from disruption and diversify the revenue mix.
The new report The Mobile Economy Russia & CIS 2019 is authored by GSMA Intelligence . To access the full report and related infographics, please visit: https://www.gsma.com/r/mobileeconomy/russia-cis/
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors
- The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators and 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 www.gsma.com . Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191007005053/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Venture Global Launches First Advertising Campaign: “Unstoppable Energy”23.3.2026 11:30:00 CET | Press release
New ad campaign narrated by Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton will air nationally in the U.S. Today, Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE: VG) is launching its first national advertising campaign – “Unstoppable Energy”. The seven-figure, year-long campaign includes national and local broadcast television spots, as well as out-of-home, print, and digital ad placements. The company is proud to have Academy-Award winner Billy Bob Thornton as the campaign voiceover. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260323692879/en/ “Venture Global is excited to unveil our very first national advertising campaign, featuring the accomplished Billy Bob Thornton as its voice,” said Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel. “The Unstoppable Energy campaign portrays the roll-up-your-sleeves tenacity and innovation that drives our company every day. We are proud to introduce the ethos and story of the Venture Global brand across the U.S. as we grow into
Venture Global and Vitol Announce New LNG Purchase Agreement23.3.2026 11:00:00 CET | Press release
Today, Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE: VG) and Vitol announced the execution of a new, binding agreement for the purchase of approximately 1.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Venture Global for five years commencing in 2026, to be supplied from Venture Global’s portfolio. “Global demand for flexible, reliable U.S. LNG is rapidly growing, and Venture Global is proud to work with premier LNG trading companies like Vitol to provide this critical supply to the market,” said Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel. “Thanks to our innovative model, we have the ability to provide our customers with short, medium, and long-term LNG supply, and this agreement is another important step in diversifying the tenor of our LNG portfolio.” “Vitol is delighted to be working with Venture Global, a leading producer and supplier of LNG to world markets,” said Pablo Galante Escobar, Global Head of LNG at Vitol. “LNG is important to many economies worldwide. Through this transacti
RSA Launches ID Plus Sovereign Deployment: The Next Level of High Assurance Identity Security23.3.2026 11:00:00 CET | Press release
New “Deploy Anywhere” Solution Sets Industry Standard for Security, Availability, and Compliance Across Critical Sectors Today at RSAC Conference 2026, RSA, the security-first identity leader, announced the launch of RSA® ID Plus Sovereign Deployment, a groundbreaking evolution in high assurance identity solutions designed to meet the needs of organizations that must maintain constant availability, meet policy and data sovereignty laws, and defend themselves from advanced, persistent threats. RSA ID Plus Sovereign Deployment is the next evolution in RSA® ID Plus, the market’s most secure identity and access management (IAM) security platform featuring complete multi-factor authentication (MFA), SSO, and access capabilities. RSA ID Plus Sovereign Deployment features a new “deploy anywhere” capability that allows government agencies, financial services, critical infrastructure, and healthcare organizations to modernize their identity infrastructure while still maintaining the highest sta
Klarna Expands Its Partnership With H&M in Romania and Hungary23.3.2026 10:46:00 CET | Press release
Today Klarna announces that H&M customers can now choose flexible Klarna payment options at checkout. The expansion comes amid Klarna's rapid growth in Romania, where the global digital bank and flexible payments provider has surpassed 500,000 active users. Klarna, a global digital bank and provider of flexible payment solutions, and H&M, one of the world's largest fashion retailers, announce the expansion of their partnership in Romania and Hungary as a strategic step that strengthens the long-standing global collaboration between the two companies. Klarna is now available as a payment method for H&M customers in both markets, offering a smooth, more predictable checkout experience and payment options tailored to the different needs of shoppers. The integration of Klarna into H&M online stores is an important feature for customers, who will thus be able to access interest-free flexible payment options. More flexibility at checkout By integrating Klarna into the payment process, H&M cu
Recyclable Packaging and Responsible Water Management: Barilla’s Commitment to a More Sustainable Future23.3.2026 10:30:00 CET | Press release
99.8% of the packaging sold is designed to be recyclable.Over 50% of the materials used in Barilla Group’s packaging are recycled, and 71% are paper-based.+45% water recycled and reused in 2024 compared to 2022, and +164% in water-stressed areas. With 99.8% of the packaging designed to be recyclable and a 45% increase in water recycled and reused in 2024 compared to 2022, Barilla continues to strengthen its commitment to the responsible management of resources. The company is reaffirming this commitment on the occasion of Global Recycling Day (March 18) and World Water Day (March 22), two moments that highlight the importance of increasingly sustainable production models – from efficient water management to the design of more circular packaging solutions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260320294356/en/ Barilla Group's Rubbiano Plant (PR) WATER AS A STRATEGIC RESOURCE TO PROTECT A fundamental resource for past
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom