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LONDON Sept. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/

Sixth Annual SDG Impact Report from GSMA Shows Mobile Sector Increased its SDG

Contribution, Despite the Pandemic

The sixth annual SDG impact report from the GSMA shows the mobile industry

increased its contribution to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in

2020. Despite the significant challenges posed by the global pandemic, the

sector is halfway to maximising its potential impact on the SDGs. However,

progress cannot be taken for granted, as there are less than 10 years to

achieve the 2030 SDG targets.

Click here to download: 2021 Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable

Development Goals.

"As heads of state gather for the UN General Assembly, we call on world

leaders, and the public and private sectors, to work together to accelerate

progress towards achieving the SDGs. The pandemic has exacerbated inequalities

in many ways, so keeping the commitment to the SDGs has never been more

important for governments and industries. Yet, we know that it will not be

possible to attain the 2030 Agenda without mobile connectivity. It is our

responsibility to collaborate in new ways that will maximise the industry's

potential," said GSMA's Director General, Mats Granryd.

The mobile industry's SDG contributions

Despite rising mobile data traffic, mobile networks delivered a 33% improvement

in download speeds in 2020 due to increasing 4G adoption and 5G take-up. These

improvements enhance the mobile industry's SDG impact, as it enables mobile to

be at the heart of a broad range of services designed to address society's

global challenges.

Last year, a staggering 3.3 billion people used mobile to make video calls,

aiding several online activities, including e-learning, telehealth, and remote

working. 1.6 billion people are now using mobile internet to improve or monitor

their health; 2 billion people use mobile internet to access education for

themselves or their children.

2.3 billion people (45% of mobile subscribers) used their phones to purchase

goods and services, representing an increase of 300 million since 2019. During

the pandemic, more people used mobile to purchase food and other essential

products and services as they became less comfortable handling cash. This

activity supports the mobile industry's contribution to SDG3: Good Health;

SDG4: Quality Education; SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

2.6 billion people used mobile financial services, such as mobile banking and

mobile money, an increase of 270 million people since 2019. Using mobile

financial services helps create employment opportunities, raise productivity

and formalise the economy, contributing to SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 8: Decent

Work and Economic Growth. Other gains are included in the report.

Key facts include:

- In 2020, the mobile industry increased its impact for each of the 17 SDGs,

achieving an average SDG impact score of 50

- This means the industry is achieving 50% of its potential contribution to the

SDGs - up from 48% in 2019 and 33% in 2015

- Despite the economic recession, mobile adoption continued to increase in

2020, supporting the industry's contribution to multiple SDGs.

- By the end of 2020, 5.2 billion people (67% of the global population) were

using a mobile phone, representing an increase of 90 million people since 2019.

- And, 4 billion people (51% of the global population) were also using the

mobile internet, which is an increase of 220 million since 2019.

Net Zero by 2050

- The mobile industry is making continued progress on disclosing climate data

and setting targets for emissions reductions.

At the end of 2020, 69% of operators by connections and 80% by revenue

disclosed their climate impacts, while 31% of operators by connections and 36%

by revenue had set carbon reduction targets to be net zero by 2050.

About GSMA

- The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more

than 750 operators with almost 400 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 the industry-leading MWC events held annually in

Barcelona, Africa, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as the M360 Series of

regional conferences.  For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate

website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.

Media Contacts:

GSMA Press Office

pressoffice@gsma.com

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Source: GSMA