Data from mobile network operators has the potential to revolutionize statistics, making them more useful and timely. Mobile phone data can offer insights into population density, mobility trends, food security, and more—without relying on people’s responses to surveys. Yet, for National Statistical Offices (NSOs), there are a number of challenges to accessing this type of privately held data including common hurdles that can cause ethical data sharing projects to stall.
Over the past year, the Global Partnership has been working with partners across sectors to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in data for development: how to responsibly and effectively share mobile network data for public good. This effort culminated in the recently published Roadmap to Accessing Mobile Network Data for Statistics—a guide designed to support governments, NSOs, and other stakeholders in navigating the first steps to using mobile network data for official statistics.
This roadmap complements existing tools, such as those available through the World Bank’s Global Data Facility Mobile Phone Data repository (GitHub), which address the technical aspects of data sharing. The roadmap is the only tool of its kind that lays out a pathway to navigate the complex non-technical barriers faced by National Statistical Offices in building partnerships with the private sector. It builds on insights from the Global Partnership’s years of work in and with countries and discussions from two key webinars held in late 2024. These events convened a diverse range of stakeholders, including representatives from NSOs, multilateral organizations, regulatory bodies, and the private sector, to explore challenges and solutions in data sharing partnerships.
From discussion to action: Key themes from the webinars
The first webinar, Beyond mobile data: The future of data sharing for public good, featured perspectives from LinkedIn’s Data for Impact program, the World Bank’s Development Data Partnership, the Global Center on AI Governance, and NSOs from Botswana and Uruguay, among others. Discussions highlighted the growing demand for privately held data in policymaking and the evolving expectations around data governance and public-private cooperation.
The second webinar, Accessing mobile data: National strategies and challenges, focused specifically on mobile network data, bringing together experts from NSOs, telecommunications companies, and international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Participants explored ongoing efforts in countries like Botswana, Uruguay, and Indonesia, where partnerships between mobile network operators (MNOs) and NSOs yield valuable insights for migration tracking, population statistics, and economic indicators.
Across both discussions, several key themes emerged:
- Trust and governance are critical to data sharing partnerships. Ensuring data privacy and ethical use remains a universal concern. Clear governance frameworks and regulatory engagement, such as Botswana’s collaboration with its Data Protection Commissioner and Uruguay’s engagement with telecommunications regulator URSEC, have proven effective in building trust with private data holders.
- Sustainable partnerships need aligned incentives. Successful partnerships between NSOs and MNOs hinge on demonstrating mutual benefits beyond direct revenue—such as enhanced public services, improved business intelligence, and strengthened reputations.
- Capacity building is essential: Stakeholders emphasized the need for stronger data governance and technical skills among public institutions. Without adequate expertise in privacy protection, data management, and analytics, even well-structured partnerships may struggle to deliver meaningful outcomes.
- The role of regulation is expanding. There is growing momentum toward more structured, legally mandated data-sharing agreements. Many participants expect regulatory frameworks to become more robust in the coming years, shaping a future where data sharing is both a social expectation and a legal requirement.
The roadmap: A practical guide for progress
Recognizing these challenges and opportunities, the newly published roadmap provides a step-by-step guide for governments, NSOs, and other stakeholders looking to leverage mobile network data for official statistics. The roadmap includes three key stages:
- Evaluating the opportunity: Setting clear goals for the desired impact of data innovation, building a business case, and reaching out to the regulator and MNOs.
- Engaging with stakeholders: Approaches for building long-term trust and buy-in with MNOs and other stakeholders, and aligning data sharing efforts with national priorities.
- Executing collaboration agreements: Navigating data protection laws and establishing agreements to ensure that stakeholders’ concerns are addressed, plus best practices for ensuring data quality, standardization, and interoperability.
As well as resources and guidance, the roadmap includes case studies from 18 countries that have successfully navigated the path to accessing privately held mobile data for statistical purposes.
Moving forward
The publication of this roadmap marks an important step toward unlocking the potential of mobile network data for sustainable development. However, its success will depend on continued collaboration and knowledge sharing among public and private organizations.
We invite policymakers, NSOs, regulators, and private sector partners to explore the roadmap and join the conversation on advancing ethical and effective data sharing practices. By working together, we can build a future where data is not just an asset, but a force for public good.
