Direct Carrier Billing Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Limited DCB, Pure DCB, MSISDN Forwarding, Others), By Platform (Android, iOS, Others), By End User (Games & Apps, Video Content & Movies, Music, Others), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 61.85 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	11.41%
Fastest Growing Segment	iOS
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 118.27 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Direct Carrier Billing Market will grow from USD 61.85 Billion in 2025 to USD 118.27 Billion by 2031 at a 11.41% CAGR. Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) is a mobile payment mechanism that authorizes consumers to charge the cost of digital content and services directly to their monthly mobile phone bill or deduct it from a prepaid balance. The market’s expansion is primarily supported by the rising demand for seamless, frictionless payment methods in the digital entertainment sector and the necessity to provide financial inclusion for unbanked populations who lack access to traditional credit cards. This growth is further fueled by the diversification of DCB into new verticals beyond entertainment, such as transportation and parking. According to the Association Française pour le développement de services et usages Multimédias Multi-opérateurs (AF2M), in 2024, the market value of SMS-based transport ticketing in France reached €42.5 million, illustrating the technology's successful adoption in utility-based sectors.

Despite these positive drivers, the market faces a significant challenge regarding the high transaction fees levied by mobile network operators compared to other payment processing methods. These elevated costs often deter merchants from adopting DCB as a primary payment option, particularly for lower-margin physical goods, thereby limiting the payment method's broader applicability in general e-commerce. Furthermore, the fragmented regulatory landscape across different regions complicates compliance for global merchants, creating an additional barrier to universal market penetration.

Key Market Drivers

The exponential growth of mobile gaming and in-app microtransactions serves as the primary engine for the Global Direct Carrier Billing market. As consumers increasingly engage with freemium game models, the necessity for a frictionless, high-frequency payment method has made carrier billing the preferred choice for impulse purchases where entering credit card details is cumbersome. This mechanism is particularly vital for converting free users into paying customers by streamlining the checkout process for digital goods, ranging from skins to currency packs. Illustrating this transactional volume, according to Boku, March 2025, in the 'Audited Results for the year ended 31 December 2024', the company's Total Payment Volume (TPV), driven largely by digital entertainment merchants, reached $12.4 billion.

Strategic partnerships between telecom operators and digital content providers are further accelerating market adoption by expanding DCB beyond simple one-off transactions into subscription bundling. Operators are leveraging these alliances to reduce churn by offering bundled access to OTT video and music streaming services, effectively transforming the mobile bill into a central hub for digital lifestyle management. This trend is evidenced by the rapid uptake of subscription aggregators; according to Bango PLC, September 2025, in the 'H1 2025 Results', active subscriptions on their Digital Vending Machine platform doubled to 19.2 million. Such integration highlights the massive economic footprint of the mobile ecosystem, which is substantial; according to the GSMA, March 2025, in 'The Mobile Economy 2025' report, mobile technologies and services generated $6.5 trillion of economic value added globally.

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Key Market Challenges

The high transaction fees levied by mobile network operators represent a primary barrier to the expansion of the Global Direct Carrier Billing Market. Unlike credit card processors or digital wallets that typically charge low single-digit percentages, carrier billing fees are often significantly higher. This pricing structure makes the payment method economically unviable for merchants selling physical goods, such as electronics or clothing, who operate on thin profit margins and cannot absorb such costs. Consequently, the adoption of direct carrier billing remains largely confined to the digital content sector, where higher margins allow providers to accommodate these elevated rates, thereby stalling the market’s entry into the much larger general e-commerce landscape.

This economic constraint prevents the technology from achieving universal penetration and competing directly with traditional financial instruments. The restriction to high-margin verticals effectively caps the total addressable market volume, limiting revenue streams to specific digital niches. According to the Association Française pour le développement de services et usages Multimédias Multi-opérateurs (AF2M), in 2024, the total transaction value processed via carrier billing in France reached €790 million. While this figure demonstrates activity, the market's broader potential remains unrealized as high merchant fees deter the integration of mass-market retail sectors.

Key Market Trends

The integration of Direct Carrier Billing with cloud gaming platforms and eSports betting ecosystems is fundamentally reshaping the market's trajectory. As 5G networks enable low-latency game streaming and real-time wagering, carrier billing has emerged as the critical infrastructure for processing high-frequency, low-value microtransactions without the friction of banking authentication. This synergy is particularly evident in the eSports sector, where immediate payment settlement is essential for in-play betting and digital item acquisition. Highlighting the scale of this segment, according to Xsolla, April 2025, in the 'Gaming and direct carrier billing: Telco's big win' report, global direct carrier billing spending reached $78.5 billion in 2024, with the gaming vertical serving as a primary contributor to this valuation. This trend signifies a departure from static digital downloads toward dynamic, session-based revenue models that rely heavily on the speed and ubiquity of carrier payments.

Simultaneously, the emergence of carrier-led super apps and digital wallet ecosystems is expanding the utility of direct carrier billing beyond simple content consumption. Mobile network operators are increasingly transforming their payment interfaces into comprehensive financial platforms that bundle DCB with services such as peer-to-peer transfers, insurance, and merchant payments. This evolution allows carriers to retain a larger share of the customer's digital wallet by offering a unified ecosystem for diverse financial needs. The financial impact of this strategic pivot is substantial; according to MTN Group, August 2025, in the 'Interim Financial Results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2025', fintech revenue increased by 37.3%, driven by the accelerated adoption of these advanced payment platforms. This shift indicates that carrier billing is maturing into a foundational layer for broader financial inclusion and digital commerce super apps.

Segmental Insights

Market data identifies the iOS platform as the fastest-growing segment within the Global Direct Carrier Billing Market. This expansion is largely attributed to the robust spending power of iOS users, who frequently engage in high-value transactions for premium apps and digital subscriptions. Additionally, the widespread implementation of carrier billing as a primary payment method for the App Store and bundled Apple services drives significant adoption. Telecom operators continue to strengthen direct billing capabilities for this segment to effectively capture revenue from a consumer base that prioritizes convenience and secure payment integration.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific commands the leading position in the Global Direct Carrier Billing Market, driven by a massive mobile-first population and the rapid expansion of the digital economy. Unlike Western markets, a significant portion of consumers in this region lacks access to traditional credit facilities, making carrier billing an essential enabler for financial inclusion. Consequently, telecom operators have secured a critical role in the monetization of mobile gaming and streaming services. This dominance is reinforced by strategic collaborations between carriers and digital merchants, facilitating seamless transactions for the region’s high-density smartphone user base.

Recent Developments

• In June 2025, Bango entered into a strategic partnership with a leading telecommunications provider in South Korea to deploy its digital vending machine technology. This collaboration enabled the operator to offer a variety of third-party subscription services, including artificial intelligence and video-on-demand platforms, directly to its 13.5 million customers. Through this agreement, subscribers could bundle these digital services with their mobile plans and pay for them using carrier billing. The Chief Executive Officer of the payment platform highlighted that this move would allow the operator to quickly launch new bundled offers and deliver a seamless content aggregation experience to its user base.
• In September 2024, Telenor Linx was selected by a global technology giant as a trusted integrator to enable direct carrier billing as a payment method in its app store. This partnership leveraged the Norwegian company’s platform to facilitate secure mobile payments for digital content, such as apps and games, across a worldwide network of operators. The collaboration aimed to simplify transactions for users who lack access to credit cards, thereby boosting revenue opportunities for app developers and mobile carriers. The Chief Executive Officer of the integrator noted that this agreement recognized their technology's ability to bridge the gap between global digital ecosystems and local subscriber bases.
• In May 2024, Forest Interactive launched DCBPays, a comprehensive platform designed to accelerate the global adoption of direct carrier billing for mobile operators and content providers. This new product streamlined the integration process for telecommunications companies, enabling them to offer secure and efficient payment options for over-the-top (OTT) services. The platform focused on enhancing financial inclusion by allowing users to pay for digital content without traditional banking methods. The Head of Product at the company stated that the solution was developed to meet the evolving demands of the digital economy and to provide a seamless checkout experience for subscribers in emerging markets.
• In January 2024, TPAY Mobile announced a strategic partnership with a major Chinese multinational technology conglomerate to launch direct carrier billing for a leading battle royale mobile game in Egypt. This collaboration allowed gaming enthusiasts to purchase in-game currency through the official game shop, with the cost added directly to their mobile phone bills or deducted from their prepaid balance. The initiative aimed to support the unbanked population by providing a secure and accessible payment method, eliminating the need for credit cards. The Group CEO of the payment facilitator emphasized that this expansion would help the game publisher reach a wider audience in the Middle East region.

Key Market Players

• Boku, Inc.
• DIMOCO Payments GmbH
• Trimble Inc.
• One MobiKwik Systems Limited
• Mobile Payment Solutions NV
• PayPal, Inc.
• Bango Plc
• Vonage Business Inc.
• PayByPhone Technologies Inc.
• NTT DOCOMO, INC.

By Type	By Platform	By End User	By Region
Limited DCB Pure DCB MSISDN Forwarding Others	Android iOS Others	Games & Apps Video Content & Movies Music Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Direct Carrier Billing Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Direct Carrier Billing Market, By Type:

• Limited DCB
• Pure DCB
• MSISDN Forwarding
• Others

• Direct Carrier Billing Market, By Platform:

• Android
• iOS
• Others

• Direct Carrier Billing Market, By End User:

• Games & Apps
• Video Content & Movies
• Music
• Others

• Direct Carrier Billing Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE