NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Mobile money has done more to extend the reach of financial services in the last decade than traditional “bricks and mortar” banking has in the last century.

Today, GSMA is releasing 2015 State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money. Now in its fifth year, this report provides stakeholders with a comprehensive quantitative assessment of the mobile money industry for unbanked and underserved people.

Mobile money is reaching more than 411 million people globally.  Moreover, it is available in 85% of countries where the vast majority of the population lacks access to a formal financial institution. This is an extraordinary achievement, demonstrating the power of mobile, underpinned by the critical role mobile network operators have played in building this industry.

However, while the success to date is to be celebrated, the future success of mobile money depends on the industry’s capacity to adapt to a changing landscape. The findings from the 2015 report provide insights on both current and future trends, giving better visibility on what is changing and how to adapt.