GSMA Highlights MBB Gains as 5G Takes Off

During the MWC Shanghai, GSMA CTO Alex Sinclair highlighted collaboration as the key behind the mobile industry’s gains over the past 30 years. He has argued that the collaboration continues to be vital as 5G takes off and connectivity spreads across industries.

In the opening keynote, Sinclair argued meeting customers’ demands would require more complex offerings as 5G matures and becomes embedded in every aspect of people’s lives. Meeting such demand can only be achieved by working together, sharing knowledge and best practices, and innovating across industries and verticals, he said.

Mobile broadband networks now cover 95% of the world’s population, serving 5.4 billion unique customers. As the industry enters the next stage of digital transformation, Sinclair insisted it needs to create scalable, interoperable, and commercially viable services that benefit operators, verticals, and consumers. “Collaboration and partnership will be the key, so we must work to strengthen our bonds,“ emphasized Sinclair.

Operators globally are forecast to spend $1.5 trillion on mobile capex over the next seven years to keep up with demand, the majority of which will be on 5G networks. “We need to explore innovative financial models to make sure we can achieve this,“ Sinclair said. Access to affordable and harmonized spectrum also will be crucial. Sinclair said 2022 was a pivotal year for 5G, with more than 230 mobile operators in 90 markets offering commercial services.