Telecoms body rallies industry for $11tr infrastructure

Telecommunications body, the GSMA, has rallied member nations, including Nigeria, on the need to build a resilient infrastructure to set the stage for a connected future expected to add nearly $11 trillion in economic value by 2030 to the global economy.

GSMA spotlighted key industry infrastructure, including 5G, in accelerating digital transformation and the increasing convergence of AI in advanced connectivity and sustainability, as critical infrastructure that needs special focus.

Speaking at the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, GSMA’s Director-General, Mats Granryd, drew attention to the industry’s need to complete the transition to 5G Standalone, drive new revenue models and harness the potential of AI and Open Gateway APIs, to ensure growth.

He also stressed the urgency of securing future spectrum access, as well as the challenges and opportunities of closing the global mobile usage gap. With 3.1 billion people covered by mobile networks, but not using mobile internet, closing the usage gap could unlock a $3.5 trillion economic opportunity.

Granryd said: “Our industry connects nearly six billion people and powers economies worldwide. And, at MWC, over 50 per cent of attendees come from outside the mobile ecosystem, a clear signal that industries recognise the vast opportunities our networks create. This week will shine a light on those opportunities – from 5G to AI and many more – and their role in helping us to unlock new markets, drive innovation and shape the future of the global digital economy. Only at MWC will you find such a unique combination of exhibition, thought leaders, startups and policymakers, creating a space where innovation flows and business gets done.”

Meanwhile, GSMA in its yearly Mobile Economy Report 2025, noted that mobile technologies and services generated 5.8 per cent of global GDP in 2024 (equivalent to $6.5 trillion of economic value).

According to it, by 2030, this figure is expected to rise to nearly $11 trillion, or 8.4 per cent of GDP, as countries around the world increasingly benefit from the improvements in productivity and efficiency brought about by the increased take-up of mobile services and digital technologies, including 5G, IoT and AI.