India’s rapid 5G adoption and digital public infrastructure (DPI) deployment demonstrate how scale, talent and ambition can drive inclusive growth and shape the next era of connectivity, GSMA Chair Gopal Vittal said on Wednesday.
Vittal said global standards and cross-market collaboration can accelerate innovation, strengthen trust and resilience, and ensure people worldwide benefit from connectivity.
The GSMA Board met in New Delhi last week to outline priorities for the next era of connectivity.
“India today is a leader in mobile connectivity, with 1.2 billion active connections, 450 million of which are 5G, underpinning India’s growing digital economy. The GSMA Board also had the chance to meet with key government and industry leaders, including the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi,” the organisation said in a statement.
Mobile technologies and services generated $6 trillion in economic value globally in 2025, equivalent to 6.4 per cent of global GDP. The contribution could reach $11.3 trillion by 2030.
As 5G adoption accelerates across markets, industry discussions have focused on how sustainable market structures can support investment in new technologies and how advanced capabilities, such as network slicing, can generate value across the wider economy.
By 2030, 5G is expected to account for 57 per cent of all mobile connections. Operators plan to invest $1.2 trillion in capital expenditure between 2025 and 2030 to expand and upgrade their networks.
GSMA highlighted India’s rapid 5G rollout as an example of the progress that sustained investment and clear market ambitions can deliver.
“India provides a concrete example of the benefits that come when policy reform enables greater industry investment in mobile infrastructure. In India, and across the world, mobile connectivity is creating new opportunities for businesses, communities and economies,” said GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath.
Badrinath said the next priority is to turn rapid 5G expansion into tangible benefits while ensuring more people can access and participate in the digital economy. He stressed the need for sustained investment, supportive policies and collaboration across the wider ecosystem.
The Board also discussed the growing global threat of scams. In response, GSMA has made scam prevention a shared industry priority through its United Against Scams programme.