Latest news with #VivekBadrinath
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ensure sustainability of network investments: GSMA chief to regulators
NEW DELHI: Regulators worldwide should ensure a level-playing field and facilitate infrastructure deployment following concerns around sustainability of network investments in the wake of over-the-top (OTT) or mobile app-based services, a top GSMA executive said. 'There are growing concerns around the sustainability of network investment. Regulators should ensure a level playing field that encourages ongoing infrastructure development, while fostering innovation and consumer choice,' Vivek Badrinath , director-general, GSMA, told ETTelecom. In April this year, London-based GSMA appointed Badrinath to the top GSMA executive leadership role replacing Mats Granryd. WhatsApp , Messenger, Telegram, Viber and Google Talk are some of the leading mobile communication applications with operators demanding a 'fair share' from them for carrying data traffic on their networks. On the contrary, OTT providers argue that telcos should be the ones paying mobile app players for pushing data traffic onto their networks. More than 70% of the data traffic on telecom networks is being generated by OTT providers alone. Further, Badrinath said that a transparent, and future-ready regulatory framework would be essentially required, considering "fair contribution models" and shared responsibility for network resilience. 'We believe in a balanced and collaborative approach, OTT players and mobile operators both benefit from - and contribute to - the digital ecosystem,' the top GSMA executive added. Like other nations, India does not have a policy framework or regulatory regime for OTT platforms. The Delhi-based Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) that represents Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, said that since telecom service providers and OTT communication players offer same service, a level-playing field should be ensured with the former spending huge money in spectrum purchase and network deployment. India's telco group also advocated that players who are large traffic generators (LTG) must also pay a fair share to network service operators toward capital expenditure (capex) in putting up telecom infrastructure. In 2023, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) released a consultation paper seeking comments from stakeholders on the regulatory mechanism for a selective ban of OTT players. Incumbent telcos Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) in a response to telecom watchdog, favoured a compensation model from mobile apps, for deploying and maintaining telecom networks by them that enables OTT platforms to offer seamless services to their subscribers. Earlier, head of Asia Pacific at GSMA Julian Gorman said that "a fair share contribution by tech companies or OTT players would bring motivation to investors." The mobile data traffic is expected to reach 415 million terabytes per month by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 19.8% from 2024 to 2030, according to a recent Research and Markets study. The finding by the Dublin-based research firm attributed escalating video streaming consumption and social media content in addition to next generation or 5G networks as key data traffic growth drivers worldwide. Early this year, the German market reserach firm Statista in a study said that the OTT video users are likely to reach 4.9 billion by 2029.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tashkent hosts GSMA M360 as Eurasia's digital economy grows
The summit highlights the growing role of digital technologies in the region's economic development and coincides with the release of the GSMA's latest Mobile Economy Eurasia report. The report projects that mobile technologies will contribute €238 billion to Eurasia's economy by 2030, equivalent to 8.3% of the region's GDP. This forecast is driven by the growth of smartphone usage, expanded internet access, and the accelerating rollout of 5G networks. The choice of Tashkent as host city reflects Uzbekistan's rising profile as a regional digital leader. Since launching wide-ranging reforms in 2017, the country has opened up its economy, encouraged foreign investment, and promoted innovation in the tech sector. Today, Uzbekistan is home to more than 9,700 ICT companies and 200,000 tech professionals, with services exported to 90 countries and a total turnover of €4.1 billion. 'Uzbekistan has undergone one of the most successful transformations in the world,' Kaan Terzioğlu, CEO of VEON, said. 'With a population of 40 million and over one million babies born every year, the country is demographically strong and full of potential.' Vivek Badrinath, Director General of GSMA, stressed the broader economic impact of mobile sector growth. 'A $1 increase in the mobile economy generates $6 in GDP. When governments create investment-friendly environments and key sectors like banking or transport integrate mobile tech, the benefits are shared by all,' he said. A key highlight of the summit is the unveiling of the Kazakh Large Language Model, developed through a partnership between Kazakh researchers, QazCode, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and the GSMA Foundry. The AI model supports Kazakh, Turkish, English, and Russian, addressing a crucial gap in local language technologies. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan continues to encourage innovation through initiatives like the Presidential $1 million tech award, aimed at supporting start-ups and digital entrepreneurship. Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies, pointed to recent app launches that integrate IT, tourism, and business services - generating over 2,000 international user interactions in just one week. Neighbouring Kazakhstan is also advancing its digital infrastructure. Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry, emphasised the country's commitment to AI and digital infrastructure saying, 'We are building our AI ecosystem with initiatives such as the creation of a national AI Center. This center will support research, education, and startups, playing a crucial role in nurturing the entire ecosystem.' Despite advances some challenges remain. According to the GSMA, around 80 million people in Eurasia remain offline, despite having mobile network coverage. Addressing this "usage gap" will be key to ensuring inclusive digital growth across the region. GSMA initiatives such as its collaboration with IBM — offering members access to the platform — and joint efforts with the European Space Agency on Non-Terrestrial Networks, aim to enhance connectivity and bridge the digital divide. As Tashkent takes the spotlight during M360 Eurasia, Uzbekistan positions itself as a key player in shaping the region's digital future — one increasingly defined by innovation, inclusion, and international cooperation. Sign in to access your portfolio
Euronews
23-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Tashkent hosts GSMA M360 as Eurasia's digital economy grows
The summit highlights the growing role of digital technologies in the region's economic development and coincides with the release of the GSMA's latest Mobile Economy Eurasia report. The report projects that mobile technologies will contribute €238 billion to Eurasia's economy by 2030, equivalent to 8.3% of the region's GDP. This forecast is driven by the growth of smartphone usage, expanded internet access, and the accelerating rollout of 5G networks. The choice of Tashkent as host city reflects Uzbekistan's rising profile as a regional digital leader. Since launching wide-ranging reforms in 2017, the country has opened up its economy, encouraged foreign investment, and promoted innovation in the tech sector. Today, Uzbekistan is home to more than 9,700 ICT companies and 200,000 tech professionals, with services exported to 90 countries and a total turnover of €4.1 billion. 'Uzbekistan has undergone one of the most successful transformations in the world,' Kaan Terzioğlu, CEO of VEON, said. 'With a population of 40 million and over one million babies born every year, the country is demographically strong and full of potential.' Vivek Badrinath, Director General of GSMA, stressed the broader economic impact of mobile sector growth. 'A $1 increase in the mobile economy generates $6 in GDP. When governments create investment-friendly environments and key sectors like banking or transport integrate mobile tech, the benefits are shared by all,' he said. A key highlight of the summit is the unveiling of the Kazakh Large Language Model, developed through a partnership between Kazakh researchers, QazCode, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and the GSMA Foundry. The AI model supports Kazakh, Turkish, English, and Russian, addressing a crucial gap in local language technologies. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan continues to encourage innovation through initiatives like the Presidential $1 million tech award, aimed at supporting start-ups and digital entrepreneurship. Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies, pointed to recent app launches that integrate IT, tourism, and business services - generating over 2,000 international user interactions in just one week. Neighbouring Kazakhstan is also advancing its digital infrastructure. Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry, emphasised the country's commitment to AI and digital infrastructure saying, 'We are building our AI ecosystem with initiatives such as the creation of a national AI Center. This center will support research, education, and startups, playing a crucial role in nurturing the entire ecosystem.' Despite advances some challenges remain. According to the GSMA, around 80 million people in Eurasia remain offline, despite having mobile network coverage. Addressing this "usage gap" will be key to ensuring inclusive digital growth across the region. GSMA initiatives such as its collaboration with IBM — offering members access to the platform — and joint efforts with the European Space Agency on Non-Terrestrial Networks, aim to enhance connectivity and bridge the digital divide. As Tashkent takes the spotlight during M360 Eurasia, Uzbekistan positions itself as a key player in shaping the region's digital future — one increasingly defined by innovation, inclusion, and international cooperation. 'Investment, not tariffs,' Ishiba told reporters after the talks. He said Japan's position to keep pushing Washington to drop all recent tariff measures is unchanged and that he stands by plans to push for Japanese investment to create more jobs in the US in exchange. The two leaders held talks just after Economic Revitalisation Minister Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, headed to Washington for a third round of talks with his US counterparts. In the earlier rounds of talks, the US had not agreed to the Japanese requests. Ishiba said he reminded Trump that Japan's position was for the US administration to scrap all recent tariffs on imports from Japan, to which the US president made no specific response. 'I expressed my expectations for productive discussion to be held, and we agreed,' Ishiba told reporters. The US is charging a 25% tariff on imports of autos, a mainstay of Japan's trade with the US and a key driver of growth for the economy. Trump has relaxed some of those tariffs but has kept in place higher tariffs on steel and aluminum. Friday's talks were requested by Trump and the two leaders discussed about 45 minutes on range of topics that also included security cooperation between the two allies and the US president's recent visit to the Middle East, Ishiba said. He said the two leaders also agreed to hold talks when they both attend the Group of Seven summit in Canada next month.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GSMA M360 Eurasia Spotlights AI and 5G Innovation and Collaboration in Tashkent
With a focus on inclusion and growth, this year's event puts regional voices and underrepresented languages at the heart of AI TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GSMA M360 Eurasia makes its first appearance in Tashkent, Uzbekistan today, bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators to explore digital transformation opportunities across Eurasia. Published today, this year's GSMA Mobile Economy Eurasia report reveals that mobile's economic contribution will contribute $270 billion to Eurasia's economy by 2030. Held in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Host Sponsor Beeline Uzbekistan, a subsidiary of VEON, M360 Eurasia spotlights the region's growing digital ecosystem and explores the next wave of mobile technologies. During M360 Eurasia, a GSMA Foundry demo pod will showcase the award-winning Kaz-LLM developed by Kazak research institutions and VEON's QazCode with the support of Barcelona Supercomputing Center and GSMA Foundry to help close the AI language gap for low-resourced languages. Kaz-LLM interacts seamlessly in Kazakh, Turkish, English and Russian. Other initiatives from the GSMA Foundry highlighted at M360 Eurasia include its partnership with IBM, which provides GSMA members access to Additionally, GSMA Foundry's work with the European Space Agency about Non-Terrestrial Networks. The GSMA's Director General, Vivek Badrinath said: "Connectivity is a powerful source of economic growth and a tool to transform businesses and public services across the region. Last year, mobile technologies and services generated 7.7% of GDP across Eurasia, delivering $220 billion of economic value, and this will keep growing to $270 billion by 2030. M360 Eurasia provides a great platform to discuss how to accelerate the regional digital progress through collaboration, innovation, and ambition and I look forward to the coming days' debates. Connectivity, 5G and AI driving digital transformation across Eurasia The Mobile Economy Eurasia 2025 report highlights how mobile technologies are accelerating digital transformation and economic growth across the region. With smartphone adoption and mobile internet usage on the rise, and 5G momentum building, the mobile ecosystem plays a critical role in shaping Eurasia's digital future. Key findings include: Mobile technologies and services are forecast to contribute $270 billion to the Eurasian economy by 2030, equivalent to 8.3% of GDP. 5G connections are expected to reach 143 million by 2030, accounting for 41% of total mobile connections. By 2024, two thirds of Eurasia's population used mobile internet, equating to 164 million users. Despite progress, a significant usage gap remains: nearly 80 million people in Eurasia are still not using mobile internet, even though most live in covered areas. Photo - - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE GSMA Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
High spectrum costs could impact India's digital goals, says GSMA
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: Telcos in India are burdened by significant spectrum costs , one of the highest globally, which may impact the country's digital goals in coming years, London-based GSMA said in a recent report, adding that governments must prioritise long-term growth of the digital reserve prices, it said, have traditionally hindered spectrum sales in India, leading to unsold airwaves and contributing to spectrum scarcity. In other instances, hefty airwave base prices have also resulted in higher final prices paid by telcos in auctions."Governments and regulators must prioritise spectrum pricing that reflects market realities and fosters long-term digital growth. By ensuring spectrum is affordable, they can unlock faster network expansion, better service quality, and greater digital inclusion for all of their citizens," said Vivek Badrinath, director-general of which represents the global telecommunications industry with over 1,100 companies from the telecom ecosystem worldwide, said that even the lower unit prices in recent spectrum sales were "not sufficient to reverse the trend in spectrum cost build-up".Further, the acquisition of new bands to support 5G and 4G networks, it said, has increased the spectrum cost burden between 2015 and 2023. It stands at "26% of operator recurring revenues and is among the highest in the world," the global telco association said in its findings. According to GSMA, while recent rationalisation in spectrum pricing has been a catalyst and led to accelerated 5G rollouts, the burden of spectrum cost will continue to impact India's progress towards its digital cumulative spectrum costs too account for 7% of operator revenues, a 63% increase over the past 10 years, the global telecom lobby body said. This, it said, has exacerbated the telecom industry's financial woes as the average revenue generated per MHz of spectrum has declined by 60% over the same period.
