The Asia telecom market is on track to require nearly USD 270 billion in infrastructure investments by 2030 to keep up with the growing mobile data demands. Mats Granryd, Director General of GSMA, the global industry organisation representing the interests of mobile operators worldwide, emphasised that industry collaboration, including contributions from Over-the-Top (OTT) players, is crucial for meeting these needs, according to an ET report.
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5G Monetisation
Responding to a question on 5G monetisation challenges, not just in India, but globally, Granryd highlighted two major avenues for telecom operators to generate returns from 5G investments. Firstly, 5G is really a standard, 5G radio, 5G core to 5G standalone to attract business. 5G's potential for ultra-low latency applications and massive IoT adoption offers significant value to businesses. Secondly, the Open Gateway initiative, a USD 300 million opportunity, enables software developers and hyperscalers to tap into telecom networks via controlled APIs, fueling network innovation.
"After just 18 months, we now have 75 percent of all mobile connections using this (API) technology. That's one key metric, but essentially, three-quarters of our global brands have already signed up for the GSMA Gateway," he reportedly explained.
5G for Consumer Use
Responding to a question on operators who primary focus on 5G for consumer use rather than enterprise or business applications, Granryd highlighted that "The industry is evolving, but it will take several more years before we see major changes. As a result, the upcoming network upgrades are likely to be more incremental rather than a full generational leap. For instance, software updates are already underway. These updates will bring improvements, particularly in wireless access technologies. In countries like India, fiber is widely used, though not universally," the report said.
"Fixed wireless access has already proven to be a reliable solution, as seen in markets like the US and Australia. In the Asia-Pacific region, we expect shifts in dynamics over the next five years and while not all the options are clear yet, they will emerge," he further added.
While 5G adoption in India has been consumer-focused, particularly with fixed wireless access, Granryd expects the country to lead Asia in data consumption, with average per-person usage projected to reach 30GB this year.
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Fair Share from OTT Players
A key issue is the demand for OTT players to contribute fairly to the telecom infrastructure they rely on. "The issue of fair share remains a significant challenge. Data usage is increasing by 50 percent annually, with content providers accounting for about 80 percent of that traffic."
Granryd stressed that operators like Airtel and Jio are investing heavily in network capacity, yet content providers—who account for the majority of data traffic—are not sharing the cost burden.
"When operators like Airtel or Jio are asked about network capacity, they often feel they are building infrastructure primarily to support companies like Netflix, which use a large portion of network resources without contributing to the costs. This is seen as unfair because, while operators are heavily investing in network infrastructure, content providers are not sharing the financial burden. Due to fierce competition, telecom operators struggle to raise prices—many offer flat fees or unlimited data plans, a model also common in India. As a result, despite the increase in data consumption, operator revenues remain flat." he replied, according to the report.
"Looking ahead, Asia will require nearly USD 270 billion in mobile infrastructure investment by 2030 just to keep up with demand. Without contributions from the broader industry, operators will struggle to meet these needs. This presents an opportunity for industries and businesses to step up and support this transformation, as it's not sustainable for consumers alone to bear the cost. This is why discussions about fair contributions from all stakeholders are becoming more urgent," he further added, according to the report.
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6GHz spectrum
On spectrum allocation, Granryd called for the Indian government to allocate the 6GHz spectrum to ensure future network growth. The band is critical for expanding capacity, complementing existing 3.5GHz and millimeter-wave frequencies.
"If the Indian government is not ready to allocate spectrum in the 6GHz range in a competitive way, it could limit opportunities. The 6GHz band is extremely valuable, especially on the upper end of the mid-band spectrum," he said, according to the report.
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Service Quality
Regarding the question of whether the Indian mobile industry is falling behind in terms of service quality, he reportedly said, "Rapid growth brings significant challenges, particularly in densely populated, high-demand areas."
Despite improvements in service quality, India still grapples with network disruptions and spam calls, putting pressure on operators to enhance reliability. Granryd noted that AI-driven solutions, already in development by companies like Airtel and Jio, could play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges.
