The total number of mobile connected devices globally is expected to grow from 6bn today to more than 12bn in 2020, according to a new report from the GSMA. 

The report, produced in collaboration with AT&T, Deutsche Bank, KT, Telenor Connexion and Vodafone, and in partnership with analyst company Machina Research, says the proliferation of mobile devices representes a $1.2trillion revenue opportunity for mobile operators by 2020. 

“We are entering the next phase in the development of the mobile industry -one where we will see mobile connect everything in our lives,” says Michael OHara, chief marketing officer at the GSMA. “In this new connected life, mobile will transform society and will have a profound effect on the way we interact not only with each other, but also with our surroundings. However, capitalising on this enormous opportunity requires collaboration across the entire ecosystem to demonstrate how mobile technology in everything from tablet PCs to new healthcare devices can enhance peoples personal and business lives.”

Mobile operators can benefit from this important revenue opportunity by addressing key areas of the value chain, says the report. Jim Morrish, director at Machina Research, says: “We are moving into a new era in connectivity where we will see the proliferation of billions of connected devices in the world. 

“Most of that growth is coming from machine-to-machine: a new market for communications service providers, and with new dynamics. The way that mobile operators, device vendors, service providers and others in the value chain react to this opportunity will have important implications for their future success. Right now, the mobile industry has a clear opportunity to play a central role in the connected life.”

The report says that there are huge revenue opportunities for a variety of sectors – the most obvious being the consumer electronics industry, which could generate $445bn, according to the report. 

But the report also says the automotive industry stands to generate an additional $202bn, while health stands to benefit by an extra $69bn, and the utilities sector could generate an extra $36bn. 

Matthew Bloxham, director of telecoms research at Deutsche Bank says: “The growth of connected devices has the potential to offer substantial social, ecological and financial benefits to the world economy. The figures announced today highlight the significant revenue opportunity this space could deliver. However the wider economic impact could be far greater, including indirect benefits to industry such as cost reduction, increased efficiency and the potential for new products and services.”