Following a recent meeting in New Delhi, GSMA leaders have outlined their core strategy, focusing on GSMA 5G priorities, affordable smartphones, scam prevention, and global 6G standards.
The priorities emerged from a GSMA Board meeting where industry leaders also met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss connectivity, digital inclusion, cybersecurity, and future mobile standards.
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Connectivity and Investment Trends
India provided a backdrop for the discussions. The country has around 1.2 billion active mobile connections, including approximately 450 million 5G connections, reflecting the scale of its connectivity expansion.
Globally, mobile technologies and services contributed $7.6 trillion to the economy in 2025, equivalent to 6.4% of global GDP, according to the GSMA’s Mobile Economy 2026 report. That contribution is projected to reach $11.3 trillion by 2030. Meanwhile, operators are expected to invest $1.2 trillion in capital expenditure between 2025 and 2030 as they expand and upgrade networks.
Scaling 5G Business Models
With 5G adoption accelerating, the Board discussed how telecom operators can build sustainable business models around their infrastructure investments. By 2030, an estimated 57% of mobile connections worldwide will use 5G. However, expanding coverage alone will not guarantee that operators generate sufficient returns from their investment.
One opportunity lies in network slicing, which allows operators to create virtual network segments tailored to different requirements. Businesses could use these capabilities for applications requiring specific levels of connectivity, reliability or performance.
Gopal Vittal, chair of the GSMA, said international standards and cross-market collaboration would be important to ensuring that connectivity delivers wider economic benefits.
Closing the Digital Divide
The Board also examined a persistent problem: network coverage is expanding faster than actual internet adoption. Although approximately 97% of the global population lives within mobile broadband coverage, 3.4 billion people still do not use mobile internet, according to the GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2026 report. Most people who remain offline live in areas where mobile broadband is already available.
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Device affordability is a major barrier. At the end of 2025, an entry-level internet-enabled handset cost the poorest 20% of people in low- and middle-income countries the equivalent of 44% of their average monthly income. In Sub-Saharan Africa, that figure reached 76%, the GSMA reported.
Possible responses discussed by the Board included device financing, targeted tax reductions, and greater coordination among memory suppliers and manufacturers. The challenge is to make smartphones affordable enough for more people to use existing networks.
Digital Trust and Scam Prevention
Digital trust was another priority, particularly as artificial intelligence and deepfakes make fraudulent communications more convincing. Mobile operators are strengthening network-based scam detection and intelligence-sharing.
Its United Against Scams programme brings together mobile operators, technology providers, and regulators to coordinate practical responses to fraud. The broader aim is to make scam prevention a shared responsibility across the digital economy.
Preparing for the 6G Era
Beyond current network investments, the Board discussed how countries can contribute to the development of 6G. A key issue is spectrum harmonisation, which helps manufacturers and operators develop compatible equipment.
The upper 6 GHz band is one part of that discussion. Following its identification for International Mobile Telecommunications, countries representing more than 80% of the world's population support its use for mobile services. For the GSMA, the objective is to preserve global alignment, allowing innovations to work across markets.
Why GSMA 5G priorities Matter for Africa
The Board's agenda has particular relevance for African markets, where smartphone affordability, digital fraud, and uneven internet adoption remain significant barriers. For operators, the priorities point to three immediate tasks: finding stronger commercial returns from 5G, making connectivity more accessible, and building trust in digital services.
The 6G discussion adds a longer-term requirement for African governments to engage early in spectrum planning. The meeting outlined the industry's priorities for the next phase of connectivity: invest in networks that can generate economic value, bring more people online, and ensure future technologies remain secure.
Engagement
