GSMA Intelligence shares research themes for 2024
November 29, 2023
Throughout 2023, GSMA Intelligence has analysed developments and trends spanning all areas of the telecoms industry and wider digital ecosystem.
As the industry will continue to evolve in 2024, the industry research body asks how will their research themes change? Most of the 2023 themes will continue to run their course; though some of them will have new angles to analyse. GSMA Intelligence says it will also elevate generative AI (genAI) and eSIM to standalone themes, as it expects both to have a significant impact in 2024. Below the company shares what telco trends it believes the new year will bring.5G and network transformation Services and devices
5G connections will grow from 1.6 billion to 2.1 billion between the end of 2023 and the end of 2024, making the assessment of 5G monetisation more important than ever. Operators will increasingly seek to leverage enhanced connectivity (e.g. 5G, fibre) to accelerate revenue growth in connectivity and digital services, further expanding their revenues beyond traditional core telecoms.Services and devices
B2B has been a key theme for years. In 2024, there will be a bigger focus on how the industry can move from single initiatives to sector-wide deployments; will the industry make progress on turning growing enterprise digitisation into a scalable business opportunity?In B2C, the link between innovation in connectivity, devices and digital services will be stronger than ever, as mobile devices have emerged as the largest platform for consuming digital entertainment content and services.The new standalone themes: generative AI and eSIM
2023 has been the strongest year ever for eSIM in terms of new devices being launched and progress with service commercialisation. New standards have also been released. As eSIM technology becomes mainstream, will 2024 finally be the year of customer adoption growth?Spectrum, mobile and sustainability impacts
Mobile technology and spectrum have been a key enabler of socioeconomic developments for more than three decades. 2024 will certainly go a long way too, with further progress (and research) expected on addressing the broadband usage gap, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supporting the growth of the digital economy.
A big focus will be on the implications of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) on the spectrum outlook for 5G and beyond, as well as on bridging mobile connectivity investment gaps (including the ongoing debate for new co-investment models).