Governments around the world generated more than $800bn in tax revenues from the global mobile industry in 2025, according to a new report by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association. The figure highlights the sector’s growing importance not only as a driver of digital connectivity but also as a major contributor to public finances.

The finding is contained in “The Mobile Economy 2026” report, released by the industry body, which examines the economic, employment and fiscal impact of mobile technologies across global markets.

According to the report, the fiscal contribution of the mobile ecosystem reached approximately $810bn in 2025, accounting for roughly 3.5 per cent of total global tax revenues. The contribution came through a combination of employment taxes, corporate taxes, spectrum fees, sales taxes and social security payments linked to mobile operators and companies across the broader digital value chain.

“In 2025, the mobile sector made a substantial contribution to the funding of the public sector, with more than $800bn raised through taxes on the sector. The largest contribution was from employment taxes and social security ($270bn). The fiscal contribution of the mobile ecosystem represented 3.5 per cent of the total tax revenue,” it stated.

The GSMA noted that employment-related taxes and social security contributions formed the largest share of the sector’s fiscal impact, generating approximately $270bn for governments.

Globally, total tax revenues reached $23tn in 2025, representing a 2.3 per cent increase from the previous year. High-income countries accounted for the largest share, contributing about $17tn, equivalent to 23 per cent of their combined gross domestic product, while low- and middle-income countries generated nearly $6tn, or around 14 per cent of GDP.

“The mobile sector made a substantial contribution to the funding of the public sector,” the report stated, highlighting how telecommunications infrastructure and digital services have become embedded in modern economic activity.

Beyond direct tax payments, the GSMA said mobile technologies are increasingly helping governments improve tax administration and compliance across the wider economy.

Digital payments enabled through mobile platforms are expanding formal economic participation and improving transparency in financial transactions, making it easier for authorities to track taxable activities. Governments are also deploying mobile applications that allow individuals and small businesses to file and pay taxes electronically, reducing administrative barriers.

High compliance costs have historically discouraged individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises from entering formal tax systems, particularly in developing economies. Mobile-based tax systems, the report said, are helping reduce friction and improve compliance rates.

The fiscal impact forms part of a broader economic contribution from the mobile industry, which continues to expand alongside rapid adoption of digital technologies such as fifth-generation networks, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.

The GSMA projects that mobile technologies will contribute $11.3tn to the global economy by 2030, equivalent to 8.4 per cent of global GDP, driven largely by productivity gains and efficiency improvements enabled by digital connectivity.

The report added that mobile’s economic contribution is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.4 per cent between 2026 and 2030, significantly outpacing projected global GDP growth of 2.6 per cent over the same period.

In addition to fiscal contributions, the global mobile ecosystem supported approximately 50 million jobs in 2025. Mobile operators directly employed around 31 million people worldwide, while economic activity generated by the sector supported an additional 19 million jobs across related industries.

Industry analysts say the findings reinforce the central role of mobile connectivity in economic development, particularly in emerging markets where smartphones and mobile broadband often serve as the primary gateway to financial services, education, healthcare and government platforms.

The GSMA said continued investment in mobile infrastructure and supportive regulatory policies will be critical to sustaining growth, promoting innovation and enabling inclusive digital transformation, especially in least developed countries where mobile technology increasingly serves as a foundation for economic participation and public service delivery.