The study warned that spectrum costs have tripled over the past decade, now accounting for 8 per cent of operators’ recurring revenues.

This creates a “vicious cycle” that constrains network investment at a time when Europe is already lagging behind global peers including North America, the Gulf states and Greater China on next-generation connectivity. Only 2 per cent of Europeans currently use standalone (SA) 5G services, compared with 77 per cent in China and roughly a quarter in the US.

More than 500 spectrum licences are due for renewal in Europe over the next ten years. These licences underpin existing 3G and 4G networks that serve much of the continent’s 470 million mobile internet users and will be central to future coverage and capacity.

Under existing policies, operators are on track to pay about €105 billion in spectrum costs through 2035. The GSMA argued that high spectrum fees are constraining investment, with the European Union’s (EU) upcoming Digital Networks Act (DNA) offering a “timely opportunity” to act.

Operators are struggling
The industry association estimated that reforming renewal frameworks could cut costs by up to €30 billion, while even moderate changes could unlock around €20 billion.

The report said those savings could be redirected towards upgrading all existing 5G networks to SA 5G, delivering speed increases of up to 23 per cent and potentially adding as much as €75 billion to Europe’s GDP over the next decade.

“Providing high-quality connectivity to Europe’s citizens and improving the continent’s competitiveness requires a lot of investment that many operators are struggling to source or justify,” said John Giusti, chief regulatory officer at the GSMA.

“Rather than continuing to use spectrum as a windfall opportunity, policymakers should be more ambitious with their approach to renewals and allow these funds to be directed to support Europe’s ongoing digital goals,” he added.

Looking ahead, the report also highlighted that spectrum decisions today will shape the road to 6G, warning Europe will need at least 2GHz of mid-band spectrum by 2030 to avoid network congestion.

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Richard Lemmers, Chief Partnership & Alliances Officer, explores the industry’s most pressing challenge on business messaging, from combating fraud and leakage to implementing intelligent, value-based pricing models that drive sustainable growth. Lemmers looks ahead to the future of A2P SMS, its transformation potential, and its emerging role as a strategic platform for targeted communication and advertising.

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Ehsan Ahmadi, CEO & Founder, addresses the biggest misconceptions about A2P monetisation and how the concept is evolving.

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Mobile World Live’s Kavit Majithia was on the MWC25 Doha showfloor at Naaas Holdings’ stand to learn more about (and try on) the company’s exoskeleton robotic device. 

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The CRO of the GSMA presents at MWC Doha in the session: Powering Intelligent Economies: From Infrastructure to Impact

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Justin Springham has all the action from the new show; with AI and robotics dominating discussion.

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The CMO of the GSMA presents at MWC Doha in the session: AI for a Hyper-Connected Future

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The Director General of the GSMA presents at MWC Doha in the session: Connectivity as a Catalyst for Global Progress

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Vivek Badrinath, Director General, shares his thoughts on opening day of the inaugural MWC25 Doha event in Qatar.

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Held in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the inaugural edition of the show brings together leaders in the region with a focus on AI, 5G and intelligent infrastructure.

Launched alongside the event, two GSMA reports: Mobile Economy MENA 2025 and Enterprise in Focus: Digital Transformation in the MENA Region, revealed how growing digital technology adoption across the Gulf and North Africa is helping to expand access to vital services.

Findings indicate MWC25 Doha host country Qatar ranks highest worldwide for enterprise use of AI, big data and private 5G.

Other highlights from the reports include an observation 5G adoption is accelerating rapidly across MENA, with the technology expected to rise from 7 per cent of total connections in 2024 to 48 per cent by 2030.

Across the same timeframe, the mobile sector is to contribute $470 billion to the region’s economy, up from $350 billion, and mobile internet users are to rise from 308 million in 2024 to 378 million by 2030.

AI, mobile connectivity and related devices are expected to account for 45 per cent of all digital transformation spend through to the end of the decade, with enterprise spending averaging 9.8 per cent of revenue across MENA between 2025 and 2030.

Vivek Badrinath, director general of the GSMA, said MWC25 Doha represents a major moment for MENA and the global connectivity community.

“Across the region, we’re seeing world-class investment in networks, AI and digital services, and this visible ambition is creating new opportunities for societies and economies.”

Shared priority
Badrinath, however, added that at the same time, large parts of the region remain offline and closing the gap must be a shared priority.

“The conversations starting here in Doha can guide the next phase of progress and inspire many geographies.”

In the reports, the GSMA notes more than 340 million people across MENA remain offline despite having access to mobile broadband coverage.

The post GSMA hails MENA potential as MWC25 Doha opens appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Speaking in the opening keynote, Badrinath pointed out that in just a few short years, these countries had showed what is possible when “clear vision, long-term strategy and strong partnerships come together”.

He explained digital transformation in MENA is reshaping almost every sector, from energy and transport to finance and healthcare, while highlighting the crucial role mobile connectivity has played in this advancement.

Backing up his comments, Badrinath pointed to the GSMA’s latest enterprise report, with 66 per cent of companies surveyed putting 5G networks at the top of the list in regard to the importance of connectivity in digital transformation.

In total, Badrinath said enterprises in MENA will spend 10 per cent of total revenue on digital transformation, presenting a significant opportunity for partnership and growth.

The three i’s
To achieve lofty digital transformation ambitions, Badrinath believes infrastructure, innovation and inclusion will be key.

Starting with infrastructure, he noted the GCC states have been one of the leaders in the rollout of 5G, growing from 0 connections in 2018 to 47 million in 2025. The growth of 5G has led to several benefits, including operator Ooredoo powering the first 5G-enabled Fifa World Cup in 2022 and Zain launching Kuwait’s first 5G-Advanced network.

However, other parts of the region remain in the earlier stages of 5G rollout, with Badrinath pointing to slower progress in Morocco, Turkiye, Tunisia and Egypt.

“Its important we don’t lose our focus – we must complete the 5G journey across the region, so that everyone benefits from the opportunities of digital transformation.”  

With regards to innovation, Badrinath acknowledged challenges around AI in particular, stating the GSMA’s research showed general AI models are not fit for telco-specific needs. “They struggle with accuracy and reliability,” he said.

This however presents an opportunity, with GSMA today announcing a collaboration with Khalifa University to develop Telecom GPT, a telco-first LLM as well as an Open Telco Knowledge Graph focused on 3GPP documentation. The industry association further announced its support for the AI Troubleshooting Challenge, in which it calls on operators, AI researchers and startups to submit advanced LLMs that analysis on network faults.

Last but not least, on inclusion Badrinath noted while 71 per cent of people within GCC states use mobile internet, across the MENA region as a whole 51 per cent of the population do not, despite it being available.

“Closing the digital divide won’t be easy, but it’s vital we get this right, especially as AI accelerates.”

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In its latest report, titled “Vision 2040: Spectrum for the Future of Mobile Connectivity”, the industry association found that 6G networks will require up to three times the mid-band spectrum typically available today as AI-powered services and advanced applications spike data consumption.

According to estimates, global markets will need an average of 2GHz to 3GHz of mid-band spectrum by around 2035 to 2040, with high-demand countries requiring 2.5GHz to 4GHz. Today, most nations have around 1GHz earmarked for mobile connectivity.

According to the report, the first wave of commercial 6G launches are expected from 2030, led by China, Japan, South Korea, the US, Europe, the GCC, Vietnam and India. Although 4G and 5G will remain widely used, more than 5 billion connections, or half the global total, are forecasted by 2040.

Traffic is also set to surge, while urban areas remain pressure points producing 83 per cent of global traffic despite occupying just 5 per cent of land area. This is where mid-band capacity becomes a critical factor, the report noted.

To avoid early 6G bottlenecks and poor user experience, the GSMA insisted that countries must have at least 2GHz of mid-band spectrum operational by 2030, warning that decisions made now will determine whether countries will face congestion, slower speeds and lagging digital economies in the future.

GSMA chief regulatory officer John Giusti stated that meeting these needs will “support robust and sustainable connectivity” and help fuel long-term economic growth.

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During our digital Unwrapped week Sasha spoke to Tim Hatt, Head of Research and Consulting, GSMA Intelligence, about the booming satellite and NTN market.

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At a press briefing in Barcelona, GSMA executives outlined the first details of the edition, which will focus on the growing presence of AI and expansion towards space and mobility.

MWC26 will be held under the theme “The IQ Era”, representing an era of intelligence through smarter connectivity. John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Limited (pictured left), stressed that AI will dominate every industry and will have a cross-cutting presence at the event.

According to Vivek Badrinath, director general of the GSMA (pictured right), MWC Barcelona has for two decades been the meeting point where mobile operators’ executives, start-up founders, ministers and legislators gather. The 2026 edition emphasises the advancement of connectivity, human-driven technological innovation, business development and social progress.

Early confirmed speakers include Gopal Vittal, vice-chairman of Bharti Airtel Group and chairman of GSMA; Andrew Feinberg, president and CEO of BostonGene and NetCracker; Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange Group; Mickey Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten; Kaan Terzioglu, CEO of Veon; and Benedict Evans, technology analyst.

The four-day programme will be structured around six tracks, with AI as the common thread: Intelligent Infrastructure, ConnectAI, AI 4 Enterprise, AI Nexus, Tech4All and Game Changers.

Space, aviation
MWC 2026 will for the first time make an explicit foray into space technology and satellite connectivity, an area which Badrinath considers relevant for addressing connectivity gaps.

This space orientation materialises in two thematic areas:

New Frontiers
Located in Hall 6, this area will be dedicated to emerging technologies that are transforming the connectivity ecosystem. Topics will include quantum computing, physical AI and non-terrestrial networks (NTN), with live demonstrations and real use cases. Companies already confirmed to participate include Aalyria, Eutelsat and Toshiba Quantum.

Whilst NTN contributes to further expanding global coverage and therefore alliances between mobile and satellite operators are increasingly common, according to Badrinath this does not substantially contribute to resolving the usage gap, with 3 billion people who have mobile coverage still not using it. Lara Dewar, GSMA’s CMO (centre in the photograph), told Mobile World Live that to address this aspect, more affordable devices are needed, priced around $40, as well as more useful services developed on the ground, as was evident at the recent MWC in Kigali.

Airport of the Future
An immersive exhibition experience designed to explore how aviation and air travel are being transformed by connected technologies. It will be located outside the exhibition venue, in a temporary space at the southern entrance. This zone, which includes the second edition of the Smart Airports Summit, will feature the participation of Airbus and Outsight, which will create a full-scale moving digital twin of the area. Hoffman indicated that this will be the year’s featured vertical.

The congress will feature the presence of space industry leaders, such as Gwynne Shotwell, president and COO of SpaceX, and Michael Nicolls, VP of engineering at Starlink.

CircuitX: intelligent mobility
Hoffman announced the CircuitX activity, which will take place on the Sunday before MWC begins (1 March) at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya racing track in Montmelo. This initiative, resulting from a collaboration between GSMA Foundry, Mobile World Capital Barcelona and the Circuit (now managed by Fira de Barcelona), will showcase the latest advancements in smart mobility. Demonstrations and technological solutions applied to electric and autonomous mobility will be exhibited, aimed at around 100 technology officers from relevant companies.

Although the organisers consider the Gran Via venue fully occupied, demand from exhibitors remains considerable. Hoffman acknowledged that the event is facing space limitations, pending the new Hall 0 at the Fira becoming available in 2028.

Main exhibitors at MWC26 include Accenture, Amazon Web Services, AT&T, Dell, Deutsche Telekom, Google, Huawei, Intel, Meta, Microsoft, Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung, SKT, ZTE and Xiaomi.

In parallel, associated spaces continue including 4YFN (for start-ups, this time under the theme “Infinite AI”), the Talent Arena (at the Montjuïc venue), the GSMA Ministerial Programme and the GLOMO Awards.

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During our Digital Unwrapped week Sasha spoke to Peter Jarich, Head, GSMA Intelligence about the future of 5G 

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During our Digital Unwrapped week Justin spoke to Pablo Iacopino, Head of Research and Commercial Content, GSMA Intelligence about eSIM and the embedded cellular opportunity.

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During our Digital Unwrapped week Sasha spoke to Anshu Goel, Lead Analyst – Digital Consumer, GSMA Intelligence about enabling advanced 5G consumer services

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During our Digital Unwrapped week Sasha spoke to Sayali Borole, Senior Analyst, GSMA Intelligence about AI – The Art of the Possible

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During our Digital Unwrapped week Sasha spoke to James Joiner, Lead Analyst, GSMA Intelligence about How open can 5G go?

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Big deals in the space sector

What happened: Airbus, Leonardo and Thales signed a memorandum of understanding to merge their satellite and space operations into a single European space entity, while Lynk Global and Omnispace announced a merger backed by SES.

Why it matters: The European space powerhouse involving Airbus, Leonardo and Thales is set to launch in 2027 pending regulatory approval and aims to combine manufacturing, services and R&D capabilities to strengthen Europe’s position in the global space market. The partners said the move supports European ambitions for greater “strategic autonomy” in space and will help meet both sovereign national space requirements and international commercial demand, competing with global players such as SpaceX. The venture aims to support critical infrastructure across sectors including telecommunications, global navigation, science and national security. Meanwhile, the new SES-backed entity will merge Lynk Global’s multi-spectrum platform and Omnispace’s globally coordinated S-band spectrum to strengthen direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity. The combination of Omnispace’s S-band spectrum and Lynk’s established relationships with more than 50 MNOs spanning more than 50 countries positions the venture to compete against rivals AST SpaceMobile and SpaceX. Indeed, Omnispace CEO Ram Viswanathan said the deal unlocks the peak potential of its S-band assets and “positions us at the forefront of D2D.”

GSMA, Africa heavyweights team in AI, device push

What happened: MWC Kigali 2025 was held this week with the GSMA unveiling two new initiatives to boost digital access across Africa, as the industry charted opportunities to accelerate the continent’s digital transformation.

Why it matters: Airtel, MTN, Orange, Vodacom, Ethio Telecom and Axian Telecom joined forces with the GSMA and its AI partners to build inclusive African AI language models trained on local data. The same operator groups also unveiled joint plans to define baseline specifications to ensure affordable 4G smartphones as part of a broader push to close Africa’s usage gap. As part of this accessibility push, the industry association urged governments to scrap taxes on sub-$100 handsets, warning that duties can inflate prices by more than 30 per cent. Telco chiefs also took to the stage to call for reform, as MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita urged governments to abandon “voice-era” rules that stifle digital growth, while Orange Group CEO Yasser Shaker called for a “level playing field” for all digital players to spur investment. However, alongside calls to action, content players including MTN, Canal+ and Wi-flix spotlighted Africa’s rapid emergence as a creator economy, not just a consumer market. “We believe there is a big opportunity that we can unlock as Africans for Africans,” noted MTN Group GM of digital services, marketing and strategy, Rolivhuwa Maluma.

Samsung releases Galaxy XR, preps AI glasses

What happened: Samsung unveiled its first extended reality headset, the Galaxy XR, powered by Google’s new Android XR platform.

Why it matters: With its latest launch, Samsung Electronics stepped up its challenge to Apple’s Vision Pro. First, the Galaxy XR carries a price tag of $1,799, roughly half of Apple’s $3,499 Vision Pro. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip, the 545g headset is also more than 25 per cent lighter than its rival. Samsung said the device integrates Google’s Gemini AI at system level, enabling intuitive voice, vision and gesture controls. Alongside the launch, the company teased a wider XR roadmap, including lighter AI eyeglasses in partnerships with Warby Parker and luxury eyewear brand Gentle Monster. Counterpoint senior analyst Flora Tang told Reuters that the Galaxy XR’s “more competitive price point” could lead it to “emerge as a strong contender in the premium VR segment, particularly within the enterprise market”.  According to the news outlet, research company Gartner forecasted the global head-mounted display market to rise 2.6 per cent to $7.3 billion next year, with most growth driven by lighter eyeglass-type AI devices such as Meta’s Ray-Ban smartglasses.

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First, the industry association joined forces with operators including Airtel, MTN, Orange, Vodacom, Ethio Telecom and Axian Telecom, alongside an array of AI players to announce a continent-wide collaboration to build inclusive African AI language models. The partners will work to develop homegrown AI models trained on African languages and local data, creating tools that can power applications across education, health, public services and creative industries.

As part of the initiative, dedicated working groups will target gaps in data, compute, talent and policy across the continent, with progress set to be showcased at upcoming GSMA events.

Although more than 2,000 languages are spoken across the continent, Angela Wamola, head of Africa at the GSMA, noted the continent’s linguistic diversity is a strength that “has too often been overlooked in the development of global AI systems”. “This initiative is about turning that challenge into an opportunity… and ensuring Africa shapes the digital future on its own terms,” she stated.

Affordable smartphones
The same six operators struck a separate partnership with the GSMA. proposing a set of baseline specifications for affordable entry-level 4G smartphones as part of a broader effort to make devices more accessible.

In the coming months, the GSMA will consult with OEMs and technology companies to refine the proposed requirements and rally support for low-cost 4G devices. The industry association also urged African governments to remove taxes on sub-$100 smartphones, noting that VAT and import duties can inflate retail prices by more than 30 per cent and slow digital inclusion efforts.

According to GSMA Intelligence, a $40 handset could bring mobile internet to 20 million additional users, while a $30 device could connect up to 50 million.

GSMA director general Vivek Badrinath said: “Access to a smartphone is not a luxury – it is a lifeline to essential services, income opportunities and participation in the digital economy”, adding that the move sends “a powerful signal to manufacturers and policymakers” to unite behind affordability.

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In the event’s opening keynote, Badrinath highlighted mobile’s central role in shaping the continent’s progress. “Africa’s future will be digital,” he stated, noting that the mobile sector contributed $220 billion to GDP in 2023 and serves 710 million subscribers across the continent.

Turning to AI, he said the technology could “add $2.9 trillion of value to the African economy by 2030”, but warned that the continent remains underrepresented in global datasets. “In Africa there are over 2,000 languages, but they make up altogether only 0.02 per cent of online content,” he stated. To address this gap, he announced a new “continent wide collaboration with leaders from Africa’s mobile ecosystem” to build inclusive AI language models, underscoring that the technology “should not be a luxury for the few.”

Indeed, the GSMA chief further warned that Africa faces the world’s largest usage gap, with millions living within network coverage but not using mobile internet due to device affordability and limited digital skills. He outlined three defining forces driving Africa’s digital trajectory – intelligence, investment and inclusion.

On investment, he cautioned that the continent’s current model “is not really sustainable”, noting that African operators will spend an additional $77 billion by 2030 as mobile data traffic across the continent is set to double at the same time. Badrinath called for regulatory frameworks “that create fair operating environments for operators and really incentivise infrastructure investments”, adding that “digital Africa is not possible without access to reliable, scalable and affordable energy”.

$900 billion
Bogdan-Martin echoed this message, estimating that Africa will need $900 billion to achieve “universal, meaningful connectivity” by 2030. However, the ITU chief underscored the need for investment not only in networks, but also in inclusion. “Skills will actually turn network coverage into the ability to benefit from digital.”

She also underlined the importance of local innovation, stating that “Africa’s digital future must be led by African entrepreneurs that are solving local problems”, adding that “when connectivity, skills and support align, innovators can deliver impact exactly where and how it is most needed.”

Bogdan-Martin concluded that “the digital future of this continent will not be built by one actor alone – only together can we connect every African community meaningfully.”

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Altice shoos SFR suitors

What happened: SFR parent Altice France turned down a joint non-binding €17 billion offer from Orange, Bouygues Telecom and Free-iliad Group, shutting down immediate prospects of consolidation in France’s mobile market.

Why it matters: The offer, which the bidders argued would benefit consumers and support continued network investment and development, was dismissed by Altice owner Patrick Drahi, Financial Times reported. Although the French government is the largest single shareholder in Orange, economy minister Roland Lescure warned that any deal cutting the number of operators in the market from four to three would face intense scrutiny over potential price hikes for consumers. Despite the rejection, the three operators remain interested and have since issued a statement declaring they “remain convinced” of the merits of their proposal and intend to pursue discussions with Altice and its shareholders. Analysts at JP Morgan told Reuters the €17 billion bid was “better than expected” and the bid did spur optimism across European telecoms as Bouygues shares rose 9 per cent and Orange gained 3 per cent following the move.

Apple moves ahead with iPhone Air China launch

What happened: Apple confirmed it will launch the iPhone Air in mainland China next week after securing regulatory approval for eSIM services through the country’s three major operators.

Why it matters: China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom gained regulatory clearance to activate eSIM services on the device, marking the first iPhone model in the country to rely solely on the technology without support for physical SIM cards. Although Apple unveiled the device at its September product event, its rollout in China was delayed as local carriers awaited government clearance to deploy eSIM capabilities. CEO Tim Cook announced the update via Chinese social media platform Weibo during his second trip to China this year, when he also pledged fresh investment in the country despite US President Donald Trump’s calls to onshore manufacturing. Despite friction between the two countries, Apple’s shipments in China grew 0.6 per cent in Q3 amid sluggish overall demand, an IDC report found. According to Will Wong, senior research manager for client devices at IDC Asia Pacific, the cautious market temperature “turned consumers into value seekers”, which was “not entirely a negative development, as we saw this trend specifically benefit Apple’s new product launches”.

North America mobile economy on track to top $3.7T by 2030

What happened: The GSMA’s Mobile Economy North America 2025 report, unveiled at MWC25 Las Vegas, forecast mobile technologies and services will contribute $3.7 trillion to North America’s economy by 2030, up from $1.6 trillion in 2024.

Why it matters: The report cited rapid 5G growth, with connections rising from 55 per cent of total mobile links in 2024 to 89 per cent by 2030, fuelled by growing enterprise use of AI, private networks and IoT. The US remains the world’s largest 5G Fixed Wireless Access market, with 11.6 million connections last year projected to exceed 25 million by 2030. The new report was unveiled as MWC Las Vegas kicked off this week in North America, where leaders, operators and hyperscalers convened for two days of discussion on 5G, AI, intelligent infrastructure and satellite technology’s role inthe next phase of digital transformation. The report noted that private wireless, open RAN and satellite systems are key to this digital shift, with operators expected to invest $348 billion to advance next-generation connectivity.

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Mobile World Live‘s Justin Springham has the best bits from the keynote conference, where ‘enterprise’ and ‘AI’ were the words on everyone’s mind.

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To set the stage for the pillars, Fontaine, global head of venture capital at IBM, provided an overview of just how explosive the AI sector is.

She explained enterprise adoption of AI has surged dramatically, increasing from 26 per cent a few months ago to 42 per cent, highlighting a critical trend toward tailored offerings across industries.

In the first half of 2025 alone, AI investment equalled $104 billion, surpassing all of 2024, reflecting a fast-moving and heavily funded ecosystem.

The AI market is projected to reach $5 trillion by 2033, representing a significant portion of global GDP.

“What’s exciting about that is it’s creating unprecedented opportunities for startups, for investors, for enterprises, for the entire ecosystem,” she said.

When it comes to investing in AI, the first pillar Fontaine examines is strategic alignment, which she defines as ensuring a long-term fit within organisational goals and technology trends.

“The next thing I look at is both technology and product,” Fontaine stated. “Do you have technology that’s both interesting, innovative and disruptive?”

The third pillar is market opportunity, which is assessing whether there’s an actual market for the company or partnership.

“We see a lot of interesting startups that pop up, but there’s no market yet for them,” Finley noted. “The next thing you’ve got to look at, and this is really important as you’re thinking about either investing or partnering, is the team.

“You’ve got to double down on the team. Do they have the technical expertise? When I say team, I don’t just mean the team of the developers and the founders or the demand-making team.”

The last pillar is financial discipline which includes confirming sound business models and financial structures. This approach helps differentiate startups that are genuinely driving value versus those merely experimenting with AI.

She recommends live demonstrations using real data to verify true AI capabilities.

“The question I’m asking people is, are you experimenting with AI or are you executing with AI? The next question, is have you done POCs?  That’s where you start to see the folks who are experimenting, the folks who are executing, the folks who are becoming a fabric of an institution, the fabric of an enterprise,” she explained.

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Unveiled at MWC25 Las Vegas, the Mobile Economy North America 2025 report revealed that the mobile sector generated $1.6 trillion in economic value in 2024, equivalent to 5 per cent of the continent’s GDP, with its share forecast to rise to 10.2 per cent by the end of the decade.

5G accounted for 55 per cent of mobile connections across the continent last year, a figure forecast to reach 89 per cent by 2030 driven by surging enterprise use cases for AI, private networks and IoT. The mobile ecosystem supported 2.6 million jobs across North America in 2024, added the report.

The study also identified the US as the world’s largest 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) market, recording 11.6 million connections at the end of 2024, with the figure expected to exceed 25 million by 2030. In addition, mobile operators are projected to invest $348 billion in capital expenditure between 2024 and 2030 to advance next-generation connectivity.

Looking ahead, the GSMA predicted that 28 per cent of mobile-enabled growth will come from the services sector in the next six years, underlining how next-generation connectivity is reshaping traditional industries.

The industry association highlighted advances in open RAN, AI-driven networks and satellite connectivity as central to sustaining the region’s technological stronghold. It also pointed to robust spectrum policy, simplified regulation and cybersecurity resilience as critical enablers for continued growth.

GSMA’s report covered the US, Canada and the Caribbean.

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“What strikes me about that first mission is not just the engineering genius, but the boldness and bravery needed to make the impossible, possible,” she said. “It’s a boldness that resonates with us in the mobile industry too.”

In her opening keynote, Dewar stated lessons from the Apollo moon missions strike a chord across three key areas: connectivity, trust and agility.

Connectivity
She noted when NASA planned the Apollo 11 moon landing it had to do something never done before and that it had to do the landing without losing communication.

“Connectivity unlocks possibility,” she explained. “It was true then, and it remains true today.”

She stated North America is one of the global industry leaders with 55 per cent of customers using 5G networks.

The mobile industry contributes about $1.6 trillion, or 5 per cent, to North America’s GDP, which is expected to double to $3.7 trillion, or 10.2 per cent of GDP, by 2030.

“As 5G matures, we are now focused on completing the 5G journey, unlocking new commercial opportunities through standalone networks,” Dewar said. “As enterprises continue their digital transformation journeys, our networks and technologies are not endpoints. They are launchpads for innovation.”

Trust
During the Apollo 11 moon landing, Dewar noted astronauts, engineers, and mission controllers faced life-or-death decisions every day, which required everyone to trust the systems they built.

“As our world becomes more interconnected, trust has never been more essential,” she stated. “When we trust our teams, systems and data, we can move boldly, exploring new opportunities and developing new services.”

She cited the Telco AI Cloud Pilot as an example of the telecom industry players working together.

“Here, innovators from AT&T, Nvidia, Dell Technologies, Archetype AI and Khasm Labs have worked together to explore how network operators can become AI cloud providers,” she explained. “Together the team has developed and validated a blueprint for leveraging edge infrastructure.”

She also called out the GSMA Intelligence Online AI Inference Calculator, which is a tool that helps organisations model the benefits of running AI workloads at the network edge.

“Trust turns risk into opportunity. It gives us a safe space to explore new ideas and innovate together.”

Agility
While trust turns risk into opportunity, it also creates the foundation for innovation “and gives us the confidence to take the next leap forward,” according to Dewar.

“Which is where agility, our third lesson from Apollo, becomes essential,” she noted. “The Apollo programme wasn’t just one mission; it was a series of iterations.

“Today, our industry needs the same mindset,” she explained. “Agility will win the future.”

Dewar highlighted North America’s history as a technology leader, which includes direct-to-device services from T-Mobile US and Starlink and Skylo Technologies powering Verizon’s SOS messaging.

She also called out the development of open RAN and AI-driven RAN architectures and GSMA Open Gateway as pivotal technology innovations.

“And so, as the mobile industry we must commit to transforming ourselves into trusted digital transformation partners,” she concluded. “Agility is no longer optional. It’s how we win the future.”

The post GSMA CMO hails first moon landing as blueprint for telco appeared first on Mobile World Live.

“These venues rely on Boingo to deliver seamless, secure wireless networks across public cellular Wi-Fi and private 5G,” he said. “Our neutral host approach brings networks together, giving venues the reliable connectivity they depend on to operate, innovate and grow.”

Finley explained his company will celebrate its 25^th anniversary over the coming months.

“The world looked very different,” he said. “If you were in an airport, you checked in at the counter with a paper ticket, and your laptop used an Ethernet port.

“But at Boingo, we set out to change this.”

Finley used yesterday’s (14 October) deal with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as example of how far the company and technology have come.  

“It is one of the largest and most complex transportation agencies in the world, serving millions of people,” he explained. “With historic investments totalling $40 billion across its airports and bus terminals, the agency is transforming the region so transportation can be safer, more sustainable and future ready.”

He said the Port Authority is leading the way for the convergence of public cellular, private 5G, and next-gen Wi-Fi to deliver connectivity for each user.

“Public cellular powers passenger connectivity, Wi-Fi 6 supports high-speed applications and streaming and private 5G enable secure, high-bandwidth use cases like tarmac logistics and IoT-based safety systems,” he noted.

Finley stated the networks generate a massive amount of data but the Port Authority’s converged approach “allows data to flow freely so systems can communicate, insights can be shared, and smarter decisions can be made”.

“With connectivity, convergence, security, and innovation, it’s clear the Port Authority isn’t just adapting, they’re leading,” he said. “They’re setting a new benchmark for how a complex infrastructure should operate in a connected world.”

As for the next 50 years, Finley said next-gen connectivity is moving beyond flagship venues and into hospitals, office buildings, apartments, hotels, and convention centres, “transforming how these spaces operate”.

“Today, running the network at our venues is like running the network for a Super Bowl every single day,” he said. “It’s not easy, but we aren’t in this industry because it’s easy.”

He said the industry “is shaped by those who lead with vision and build with purpose”.

“Let’s keep pushing boundaries, solving problems, designing infrastructure that doesn’t just keep up with change, but drives it. Change before you have to, and the rest will fall into place”.

The post Boingo Wireless CEO calls out 25 years of innovation appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Aside of granting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the ability to once again hold spectrum auctions, the bill also included a provision to provide access to the 800MHz band.

Pai channelled a line from Star Wars character Yoda when he implored regulators “to do, not try” when it came to the telecom industry gaining access to more spectrum.

“Spectrum is a key driver of innovation, not just for the mobile industry, but for adjacent technologies like artificial intelligence, the cloud, fixed broadband, and much more,” he said during his keynote address. “History tells us that when America leads in wireless, it doesn’t just change industry, it changes the world.”

Pai was chair of the FCC during President Trump’s first term, which he stated is when the US led the world in 5G development.

“The president bet on wireless innovation back then, and the wireless industry delivered,” he said. ”Fast forward to today, China leads in 5G availability, and America has fallen to third.

“But as a nation, we fell behind, because we did not act with urgency.”

He said the passing of the bill “is a clear repudiation of policy inertia that we’ve seen in recent years”.

“We once again have a chance to empower American entrepreneurs, and to benefit wireless consumers,” Pai explained. “And you’ll notice that I’m not saying that we will empower entrepreneurs. It’s simply that we have a chance to empower them. And that’s because progress is not the same as endpoints.

“That is to say, identifying bands and setting an ambitious target is not the same as making spectrum available.”

He credited Trump and Republican members of congress for passing the bill but stated it is up to the telecoms industry to “convert that potential to reality”.

“We need to execute,” he said.

Mission-critical
Malady, who joined Pai on stage, echoed some of the same sentiments. He said when operators use licenced spectrum CIOs across the healthcare and manufacturing sectors are more willing to bet on mission-critical applications.

“Since day one, carriers have always been worried about capacity,” said Malady, who is also chair of CTIA. “And if you give us enough capacity, then we can build ecosystems and platforms that allow small businesses to be able to grow.

“It’s super important that we got the authority back. It’s super important that we got 800MHz. But you [Pai] said it rightly. We need to execute now.”

Malady stated the industry and government need to figure out the best way to leverage the 800MHz spectrum while also developing a long-term plan.

“We kind of live a little bit hand-in-mouth as an industry,” he said. “We need to figure out what it’s going to be ten, 20, 30 years from now so we’re not just kind of always scrambling at the last minute.”

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