The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) elects Gopal Vittal, Vice Chair and Managing Director of the Bharti Airtel group, as the new chair of the prestigious GSMA board. His term extends until the end of 2026, the remainder of the board's term. He has previously acted as the Deputy Chair of the Board since 2023 and most recently as Acting Chair of the Board since mid-January, 2025.

As the international community gears up to embrace the recent developments, including the transition to 5G standalone, AI and ML advancements in telecom, rapid push on 6G development and innovation, etc., the association is bound to play a definite and decisive role in the coming times. He will be looking after the strategic direction that represents the world’s mobile operators and companies in the broader mobile ecosystem. 

Inflection Point in the Telecom Industry 

As for the others, AI and ML advancements have pushed the telecom industry also to an inflection point. At this point, the industry has yet to embrace AI in its innovations and define the strategic direction that it aims to adopt in its race to capitalize on the AI boom. At this point, the role of GSMA becomes more important than ever. 

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Mr. Gopal Vittal, as the chair of the board, holds great insights and potential to lead the world to an AI-optimized telecom ecosystem that can make people’s lives easier and seamless. As AI takes over the space, his long-term insights into leading Bharti Airtel in India’s highly competitive telecom market give him a strong background. He understands the market needs and technological strides, very well. 

Strong Influence on Global Community

Mr. Vittal’s appointment highlights the significant influence Airtel has in the global telecom industry, with both Sunil Bharti Mittal and Gopal Vittal having held key positions on the GSMA Board for years. Mr. Gopal Vittal is only the second Indian to chair the prestigious telecom industry body after Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal. 

Holding a key position on the prestigious board will allow for easy exposure and negotiations around bringing leading telecom technology and innovations to India. 

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Further the Unifying Role 

“I am honored to be elected as the Chair of the GSMA Board. The mobile industry contributed $6.5 trillion to the global economy in 2024 and is the spine on which much of the innovation in the world is built. The GSMA, as a global organization unifying the mobile ecosystem, is fundamental to discover, develop and deliver innovation that deliver positive  change for all. I look forward to working closely with the GSMA team and the rest of the Board to continue this important work,” said Gopal Vittal.