TechPression

Tag: GSMA

  • MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita becomes GSMA Deputy Chairman

    MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita becomes GSMA Deputy Chairman

    Ralph Mupita has been elected as the Deputy Chair of the GSMA Board of Directors for the remaining term of the Board, which ends in 2026. MTN Group confirmed the appointment in a statement on Thursday.

    He will assist the chair and board in directing the organisations strategic course in this capacity, which represents the global mobile operators and businesses in the larger mobile ecosystem. 

    “This appointment is a great honour, as it comes at a time of rapid developments in technology and increasing digital adoption across Africa. Mobile technology will play a critical part in addressing the pressing challenges facing our communities and unlocking the full potential of Africa and the rest of the Global South, ensuring that no one is left behind in this journey toward a more connected future,” Mr Mupita said.

    “I am committed to supporting the strategic direction of the GSMA, which plays a pivotal role in representing the global mobile ecosystem. Together, we will continue to drive innovation and positive change in the industry,” he added.

    Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, stated, “My warmest congratulations to Mr. Mupita on being elected as the Deputy Chair of the GSMA Board. His experience will be invaluable as we continue to navigate the dynamic landscape of our industry. I look forward to working closely with him and the board.”

    About Ralph Mupita

    Mr Mupita has been the Group President and CEO of MTN Group since September 2020. Prior to that, he was the Chief Financial Officer of MTN Group from April 2017. Since joining MTN, he has supervised the successful listing of MTN subsidiaries in Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda and contributed to the development of the Group’s strategy and financial position.

    Mr Mupita served as CEO of Old Mutual Emerging Markets, which offered financial services to individuals and corporations in 19 countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa, before joining MTN. He graduated from Harvard Business School’s General Management Program with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Hons) and an MBA from the University of Cape Town.

    About GSMA

    The GSMA is a global organisation that unifies the mobile ecosystem to find, create, and deliver innovation that is essential to societal change and productive business environments. Its goal is to fully utilise connectivity for the benefit of society, business, and individuals. Connectivity for goods, industry services and solutions, and outreach are the three main pillars that the GSMA provides for its members as representatives of mobile operators and organisations throughout the mobile ecosystem and related industries. 

    At the MWC and M360 series of events, this activity entails advancing policy, addressing the most pressing societal issues of this dispensation, supporting the technology and interoperability that enable mobile, and offering the largest platform in the world for bringing together the mobile ecosystem.

  • GSMA projects N1.6 trillion revenue for Nigeria over telecoms tariff hike

    GSMA projects N1.6 trillion revenue for Nigeria over telecoms tariff hike

    The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) on Wednesday projected that the 50 percent tariff hike for calls and data will generate at least N1.6 trillion in tax revenue for the Nigerian government and increase the coverage of 4G networks from the baseline 90 percent to 94 percent of the population.

    According to GSMA, around 2 million people will be able to receive mobile internet services based on current adoption levels in rural areas, out of the approximately 9 million people who will benefit from this upgrade. The decision would also allow for significant investment in telecommunications infrastructure

    Read also: How a 50 percent Tariff increase could shape Nigeria’s digital future

    The GSMA noted that this milestone illustrates how cooperative policy reforms may promote economic development and digital inclusiveness and demonstrates the fruitful collaboration between the GSMA, industry stakeholders, and the Nigerian government.

    The GSMA has been instrumental in guaranteeing that the advantages of mobile connectivity are available to all Nigerians by promoting policies that strike a balance between affordability and the requirement for consistent infrastructure investment.

    Benefits of the telecom tariff hike 

    Transformative access to digital services, such as telemedicine, e-commerce, online education, and mobile financial tools, will be made possible by improved network coverage.

    Furthermore, the investment will promote the uptake of next-generation technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), which are critical for promoting innovation in industries like smart healthcare, connected transportation, and precision agriculture.

    Read also: AXIAN Telecom joins GSMA to address gender gap in mobile services

    Nigeria is establishing itself as a leader in the digital economy of Africa by encouraging the adoption of these technologies.

    On January 20, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced the approval of a 50 percent telecom tariff hike for the first time in 12 years.

    However, the announcement of the tariff hike has generated a lot of resistance from subscribers and NGOs, with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) declaring a mass rally on February 4 to kick against it.

  • Applications open for second GSMA climate resilience fund

    Applications open for second GSMA climate resilience fund

    The problem of climate change has triggered a grave crisis on a worldwide scale, which has led to the collapse of entire nations and the uprooting of untold numbers of people. As a means towards achieving this goal, the GSMA Innovation Fund for Climate Resilience and Adaptation is currently operating in its second phase.

    The fund provides financial assistance to newly established businesses in the fields of technology and social entrepreneurship in the regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. This programme aims to create strategies that make use of digital technology, particularly mobile technology, in order to improve the capacity of communities to adapt to the effects of climate change and to withstand its impacts.

    The selected organisations will get a comprehensive support package, which will include financial assistance in the form of grants. The grant award ranges from 100,000 to 250,000 British Pounds, which is around $125,000 to $200,000. 

    The organizations that were chosen will be provided with individualized technical assistance, possibilities for peer learning, and assistance in developing links with mobile operators and public sector organizations.

    In addition to this, the programme promises to increase the exposure of entrepreneurs in the eyes of potential business partners and investors by highlighting them in the events, publications, and social media. This is a follow-up to the first edition, which was held successfully the year before and resulted in eight African start-up companies receiving investment. 

    GSMA Innovation is a product of a collaborative effort between two well-known worldwide organisations. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office of the United Kingdom (FCDO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). 

    Through the testing and implementation of innovative digital technologies at smaller scales, the programme also aims to have a positive effect on the socioeconomic and environmental environments. Especially in areas where the inhabitants are the most vulnerable to the effects of the climate as it now or as it may become in the future.

    Read also: Investing in Innovation Africa (i3) calls for applications from innovators

    About GSMA

    The non-profit GSM Association (GSMA) represents mobile network carriers globally. It has around 750 full members and 400 associate members in the mobile ecosystem. Industry programming, working groups, and advocacy represent GSMA members.

    History

    The original GSM MoU: “A Pan-European 900MHz Digital Cellular Mobile Telecommunications Service” (7 September 1987).

    The GSMA was founded in 1995 as the ‘GSM MoU Association’ to support and promote mobile operators adopting the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) standard for cellular networks. 13 operators from 12 countries signed a memorandum of understanding in 1987 to adopt GSM for mobile services.

    Governance and membership

    GSM-licensed mobile operators can join the GSMA. Its membership includes 750 such operators worldwide. Non-operator mobile ecosystem enterprises can become GSMA associate members. These include handset, device, software, equipment, Internet, and financial services, healthcare, media, transport, and utility corporations. This category has 400 GSMA members.

    The biannually elected GSMA board contains 25 representatives from the world’s top operator groups and chosen smaller operators. In January 2022, Telefónica CEO José María Álvarez-Pallete López became GSMA Chairman. Mats Granryd became GSMA Director General in January 2016.

    Reeple obtains funding support from Zenith Bank

    Programmes and advocacy

    The GSMA manages industry activities with its members to scale and interoperate emerging mobile technologies. ‘Future Networks’, ‘Identity’, and ‘Internet of Things’ are its three active programmes.

    It runs industry working groups on roaming and connectivity, fraud and security, and intellectual property, as well as other specialty committees and organisations.

    The GSMA promotes mobile industry policy and regulation to governments and institutions. Its declared goals in this field are to guarantee that mobile telecoms “policy and regulatory frameworks are fair, flexible and future-proof”; that radio spectrum is made available for mobile services “in a timely and fair manner”; and to promote mobile services in emerging markets.GSMA’s Industry Purpose programme supports UN Sustainable Development Goals.

    Events

    In 2019, over 109,000 people attended the GSMA’s Mobile World Congress Barcelona (MWC Barcelona), the mobile industry’s biggest annual event. It began in 1987.

    Since 2006, Barcelona has hosted the event in Fira Gran Via and Fira Montjuïc. The event set a fourth Guinness World Record for the largest carbon-neutral exhibition in 2019.

    The GSMA organises MWC Barcelona, MWC Shanghai, MWC Las Vegas, and the ‘Mobile 360’ series of regional events.