GSMA

Pakistan has made the most significant progress in narrowing the mobile ownership gender gap, reducing it from 37% in 2024 to 27% in 2025. The country also saw a dramatic drop in the mobile internet gender gap, from 25% to 8%, with personal device ownership playing a critical role in enabling women's digital access.

GSMA Ltd. CEO Hoffman discusses mobile technology. The article focuses on his insights in this area.

African mobile operators plan to invest $76 billion in network infrastructure through 2030, with the GSMA reporting the industry could add $290 billion annually to Africa's economy by the end of the decade. Investments will focus on 5G networks and fiber lines, and regulators are urged to enable infrastructure sharing to reduce costs and improve rural connectivity.

MTN Group, Africa’s largest mobile operator, is advocating for shared telecom infrastructure to address a $100 billion digital infrastructure deficit. The company, leading the African Group of Six alliance, proposes shared ownership of networks to reduce costs and enable advancements in fintech and AI, with support from the GSMA and governments.

Mobile telcos are partnering with satellite operators to expand coverage via direct-to-cell (D2C) technology, but Juniper Research warns real-world adoption may fall short due to niche use cases and unresolved issues like poor indoor coverage. T-Mobile and SpaceX’s Starlink pioneered D2C in the US, while Europe and other regions are exploring adoption, though dense urban areas remain challenging.

6G technology is projected to launch in 2029, led by the US and South Korea, with global connections expected to grow from 4.6 million to 2.9 billion by 2035. However, challenges like monetization, technological hurdles, and slow adoption due to ongoing 5G investments may delay widespread consumer use, with initial focus on enterprise/military applications.

ZTE unveiled a localized digital roadmap for Eurasia at GSMA M360 Eurasia 2026 in Samarkand, with SVP James Zhang highlighting the need for converged connectivity and computing infrastructure to support AI deployment. The company proposes energy-efficient AI solutions and autonomous networks that can self-heal, addressing concerns about accessibility and sustainability of AI technology across the region.