The GSMA has released its Mobile Economy Canada 2026 report, revealing that the mobile industry contributed $120 billion to Canada’s economy in 2025, accounting for 5.4% of GDP. The report emphasizes that productivity gains drove $70 billion of this value, with projections showing the sector’s economic impact growing to $170 billion by 2030.
The GSMA warns that Canada’s telecoms policy must shift focus to investment and innovation to sustain this growth. While competition and affordability measures have lowered consumer prices, the sector now faces rising costs and plateauing revenues. The report argues that without stronger investment incentives and regulatory certainty, network quality and innovation could decline, jeopardizing Canada’s digital competitiveness.
Niall Magennis, Senior Policy Director at the GSMA, stressed the importance of mobile networks as productivity infrastructure, essential for AI adoption and broader economic resilience. He highlighted the need for an enabling policy environment to support long-term investment in advanced networks and future connectivity.
The report also underscores the mobile sector’s role in supporting nearly 200,000 high-quality jobs in Canada, with telecoms workers earning an average salary of CAD86,174-30% above the national average. Additionally, the report notes that 5G coverage reached 94% of the population by mid-2026, with 63% of mobile connections using 5G by the end of 2025.