GSMA Highlights Potential $565B GDP Boost From the ‘Right’ 5G Spectrum

The GSMA has called on governments worldwide to support the identification of “sufficient” millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum for the mobile industry at the next ITU World Radiocommunication Conference in 2019 (WRC-19). The association is clearly lining up its ducks ahead of the conference with the publication of a report, titled Study on Socio-Economic Benefits of 5G Services Provided in mmWave Band, which sets out clear economic and financial incentives for governments to ensure mobile operators are able to get their hands on plenty of this high-band spectrum. The study claims that unlocking “the right” spectrum to enable the provision of 5G services across different industry sectors could add a cumulative $565 billion to global GDP and $152 billion in tax revenue from 2020 to 2034. 5G as a whole is expected to yield $2.2 trillion in GDP and $588 billion in tax revenue cumulatively over the period to 2034, but the study found that mmWave 5G applications will make up an increasing proportion of the overall 5G contribution to global GDP. The study was carried out by consultancy TMG on behalf of the GSMA.