GSMA Chair Gopal Vittal on Wednesday said India's rapid 5G adoption and deployment of digital public infrastructure (DPI) demonstrate how scale, talent, and ambition can drive inclusive growth and help define the next era of global connectivity. Vittal's remarks came as the GSMA Board concluded a meeting in New Delhi last week, where it set out priorities for the connectivity landscape ahead.

India's Scale on the Global Stage

India now counts 1.2 billion active mobile connections, of which 450 million are 5G, underpinning the country's expanding digital economy. The GSMA Board also met with senior government and industry leaders during its New Delhi visit, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a statement from the organisation.

'India today is a leader in mobile connectivity... underpinning India's growing digital economy,' the statement noted. GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath added that India 'provides a concrete example of the benefits that come when policy reform enables greater industry investment in mobile infrastructure.'

The Global 5G and Economic Outlook

Globally, mobile technologies and services generated $6 trillion in economic value in 2025, equivalent to 6.4 per cent of global GDP. That contribution is projected to reach $11.3 trillion by 2030. By the same year, 57 per cent of all mobile connections worldwide are expected to run on 5G networks, with operators projected to invest $1.2 trillion in capital expenditure between 2025 and 2030 as they expand and upgrade infrastructure.

Discussions at the Board meeting focused on how sustainable market structures can support investment in new technologies, and how advanced capabilities such as network slicing can create broader economic value. This comes amid accelerating 5G rollouts across multiple markets, with India frequently cited as a benchmark for deployment speed.

Translating Connectivity Into Inclusive Value

Vittal emphasised that the next challenge is converting rapid 5G expansion into meaningful, widely shared benefits. 'By working through global standards and collaborating across markets, we can accelerate innovation, strengthen trust and resilience, and ensure the benefits of connectivity are realised worldwide,' he said. Achieving this, according to the GSMA, will require sustained investment, enabling policy environments, and collaboration across the broader technology ecosystem.

Tackling the Global Scam Threat

The Board also addressed the growing international threat of digital scams, making scam prevention a shared industry priority through the GSMA's 'United Against Scams' programme. Officials indicated this initiative will be a key focus area as mobile connectivity deepens and more users — including first-time internet adopters — come online in emerging markets.

With India's 5G footprint expanding and the GSMA setting a clear global investment agenda through 2030, the policy and regulatory choices made in the next few years will determine how equitably the gains of the connectivity era are distributed.