[September 18, 2017] |
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New GSMA Report Highlights Mobile Industry Progress in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
At the United Nations General Assembly Week, the GSMA (News - Alert) today published
the '2017 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development
Goals', the second annual study assessing the mobile industry's
impact in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In
addition to measuring the progress that the mobile industry is making
against the SDGs, the report also noted several commitments and
initiatives that the GSMA and its members will focus on delivering over
the next year, contributing to further success with the SDGs.
"Mobile operators around the world are working to deploy mobile-enabled
solutions that drive greater inclusion in cities and remote communities,
enable access to essential services such as health and education, create
employment opportunities and empower people with the tools to reduce
poverty and inequality," said Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA. "I
am proud of the strong progress that we are making, but we must continue
to amplify and accelerate our collective efforts to realise the promise
of the Sustainable Development Goals."
The latest report finds that during 2016, the mobile industry increased
its impact across all 17 SDGs, with the greatest improvement in SDG 3
(Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and
Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The study identified three
key trends that contributed to this positive progress:
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Better Networks - Mobile operators have invested heavily in
expanding infrastructure and improving quality of service. As of the
end of 2016, more than half the world's population was within reach of
a 4G network, while nearly 85 per cent had access to 3G networks. With
broader coverage, improved network quality and increased resilience,
mobile networks also play a critical role before and during epidemics,
conflicts and natural or climate-related disasters, supporting
emergency communication and broadcast services and providing accurate
and timely information on the movement of affected populations.
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Greater Connectivity - Operators continue to connect the
unconnected. At the end of 2016, the total number of mobile
subscribers reached 4.8 billion and 3.5 billion people used mobile to
access the internet. The benefits of this are wide-ranging, with
connectivity driving improvements in economic growth through improved
productivity, infrastructure development and efficiency. Operators
have been particularly proactive in pursuing more innovative solutions
to roll out mobile networks in remote areas, making mobile services
more affordble to the poorest individuals and driving efforts to
accelerate digital inclusion for women.
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Increased Use of Mobile - Users are becoming increasingly
sophisticated in how they use mobile devices and are starting to
access more advanced mobile-enabled services. In 2016, the number of
registered mobile money accounts surpassed half a billion, giving
users greater access to financial services that enable them to make
investments and manage expenses. Additionally, the number of social
media users on mobile reached 2.5 billion, helping promote social and
political inclusion and facilitating the development of education
networks.
Overall, the industry's contribution was the strongest around SDG 9
(Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and
SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Even with this positive
momentum, mobile operators and the broader mobile ecosystem still have
much to do to contribute to achieving the SDGs. In the report, the GSMA
outlined several commitments and initiatives that the industry will be
focusing on over the next year to drive further progress against the
SDGs, including:
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Big Data for Social Good - This initiative leverages mobile
operators' big data capabilities to address humanitarian crises,
including epidemics and natural disasters.
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National Dialogues for Digital Impact - This initiative focuses
on delivering the SDGs at a local level, through work with key
government ministries and leaders of the mobile industry.
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We Care Campaign - In Latin America and the Caribbean, 45
mobile operators in 13 countries have joined forces to ensure that
users can enjoy the transformative benefits of mobile technology in a
safe and reliable environment.
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Connected Women Commitment Initiative - This initiative
supports mobile operator efforts in low- and middle-income countries
to reduce the gender gap in mobile internet and mobile money by 2020.
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IoT Big Data - The GSMA is working to establish an IoT Big Data
Ecosystem to encourage a common approach to data sharing that will
help IoT realise its full potential and encourage the development of
new projects across transport, the environment and smart cities.
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GSMA Mobile for Development Initiatives - Working with a range
of stakeholders, GSMA Mobile for Development is leading a number of
projects to drive progress across the SDGs, in areas such as disaster
response, mobile money, utilities, agriculture and health, among
others.
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Partnerships for the Goals - Partnerships with different
entities, including the UN, will look at new business models and
mechanisms to support the implementation of the SDGs, and engage
governments and mobile industry leaders to increase the positive
social impact of mobile technologies.
"From services such as mobile money and mobile agriculture, to the
Internet of Things and the 5G networks of the future, we're making a
difference to the lives of people around the world and helping to
preserve and protect our planet," continued Granryd. "Of course, this is
not something we can accomplish alone as individuals, as companies, even
as an industry; we must work together, united, to make the 2030 agenda a
reality."
To download the 2017 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable
Development Goals, as well as other resources, visit: www.gsma.com/2017sdgimpactreport.
-ENDS-
About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting
nearly 800 operators with more than 300 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 industry-leading
events such as Mobile World Congress (News - Alert), Mobile World Congress Shanghai,
Mobile World Congress Americas and the Mobile 360 Series of conferences.
For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com.
Follow the GSMA on Twitter (News - Alert): @GSMA.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170918005452/en/
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