While mobile technology currently supports more than 2 million jobs and underpins the digital ecosystem, key regulatory decisions made in 2026 will determine Europe's growth and competitiveness in the years to come.
Dublin, June 12, 2026: The impact of the mobile industry on the EU economy increased by 14% in 2025 to reach €1.15 trillion, according to new analysis by the GSMA.
He Mobile economy Europe 2026 The report, launched in Dublin ahead of Ireland's crucial term in the EU presidency, found that Europe's mobile sector now directly accounts for 6.1% of the bloc's GDP, up from 5.5%, or a contribution of €1.01 trillion, in 2024.
Most of this economic success (about €820 billion) came from productivity, whereby the use of mobile phones and mobile Internet applications drives greater efficiency in access to information and in the acceleration of processes and communications. The sector's overall economic contribution to EU GDP is currently projected to exceed €1.6 trillion in 2030.
Source: GSMA Intelligence, Mobile economy Europe 2026 report
The findings reinforce the central and direct importance of the mobile sector in driving Europe's growth and success and are presented in the context of ongoing legislative reform for the industry that will be led during a critical step by the Irish presidency.
An employment engine
The basis for this economic growth was the number of jobs supported by the mobile sector, which amounted to 2.4 million people across the EU by the end of 2025.
Of these, 1.3 million are directly employed by the mobile ecosystem, while 1.1 million jobs in other sectors are also a product of the industry's economic activity.
The mobile industry also continued to make a substantial contribution to EU public sector financing, with €110 billion raised through taxes on the mobile ecosystem in 2025.
Europe is left behind
However, in this context, Europe's network service quality continues to lag behind world leaders. Although 5G should become the dominant technology sometime this year, by the end of 2025 it still accounted for only 43% of mobile connections.
While operators across the EU have made and continue to make significant investments (more than €140 billion have been allocated to mobile networks since 2021), recent analysis by GSMA Intelligence projects that a further €475 billion is needed by 2035, of which only €270 billion is expected to be accessible, leaving a shortfall of €205 billion.
This investment gap reflects a capital expenditure per user in Europe of €35, half of the €70 per user that operators in major connectivity markets have been able to invest in deploying widespread standalone 5G networks. This is indicative of the unattractive investment conditions across Europe, a result of long-term overregulation.
Among the regulations in the coming months are the Digital Networks Law and the Review of the Merger Guidelines. Both represent critical opportunities to improve the investment landscape in Europe, modernizing the EU regulatory framework and creating more dynamic conditions for achieving scale.
Vivek Badrinath, CEO of GSMA, comments: “The central importance of the mobile industry to Europe's economy and labor market is clear and growing.
“The fact that 1 euro in every 16 euros generated across the EU is a result of the mobile sector reflects how essential our connectivity infrastructure is, not only for accessing the broader digital ecosystem, but as an economic catalyst for European growth.
“Policy decisions taken during the six months of Ireland's EU presidency and up to 2027 will ultimately determine the extent to which we reinforce the fundamental role that mobile technologies play in modern society and how well equipped Europe's digital ecosystem is to grow and compete with major global markets.”
A crucial Irish presidency
The last eight years have seen an increase in data traffic over mobile networks, with demand across the EU now more than 550% higher than in 2018.
Similar exponential growth is forecast for the coming years, particularly amid the growing use of AI, with a further 75% increase in data traffic expected by 2030.
As a result, continuing to invest in networks remains a high priority. This will require improvements in Europe's investment environment, with progress expected during Ireland's presidency.
Patrick O'Donovan, Irish Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, comments: “Digital connectivity is essential to the functioning of the modern world and the geographical complexities of a country like Ireland mean that our mobile operators carry out vital work in underpinning our economy and society.
“As Ireland takes over the EU Presidency, fostering conditions that allow Europe's digital ecosystem to truly thrive is high on the agenda over the next six months. We must work with industry and policymakers to ensure that no opportunities are missed to boost European competitiveness and growth.”
Nicola Cooke, Director of the Irish Telecommunications Industry (TII) at Ibec association, comments: “We are at an important crossroads for the industry, facing multiple challenges with the DNA and Cybersecurity Act (CSA) 2.
“TII plans to work closely with the Government, regulators and other stakeholders during the Irish EU Presidency, to ensure we can work to overcome them and enable the industry to progress its investment in this vital national infrastructure..”
to read the Mobile economy Europe 2026 report, see here.
ENDS
About the GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization that unifies the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver critical innovation for positive business environments and social change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA offers its members three broad pillars: connectivity for good, industry services and solutions, and outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, addressing today's biggest societal challenges, supporting the technology and interoperability that make mobile devices work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
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