The GSMA Board elects Gopal Vittal as the new Chairman

(Pramod shrivastav)

Udaipur : The Board of Directors of the GSMA elected Gopal Vittal - Vice Chairman
& MD, Bharti Airtel, as its new Chairman, until the end of 2026. Gopal is currently
the acting Chair of the GSMA board. In his role as the Chairman, Gopal will oversee
the strategic direction of the GSMA. The members of this prestigious body
include1000 telecom companies from around the world, handset and device
companies, software companies, equipment providers, internet companies, as well as
organizations in adjacent industry sectors. Gopal becomes the second Indian after
Sunil Bharti Mittal to be elected as the Chairman of the GSMA Board. The
appointment also highlights the significant influence Airtel has in the global telecom
industry, with both Sunil Bharti Mittal and Gopal Vittal having held key positions on
the GSMA Board for years.Taking on the role, Gopal Vittal said "I am honored to be
elected as the Chair of the GSMA Board. The mobile industry contributed $6.5 trillion
to the global economy in 2024 and is the spine on which much of the innovation in the
world is built. The GSMA, as a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem, is
fundamental to discover, develop and deliver innovation that impacts positive change
for all. I look forward to working closely with the GSMA team and the rest of the
Board to continue this important work. " Mats Granryd, Director General of the
GSMA, commented: "I have worked with Mr. Vittal for many years and am delighted
that he has been appointed Chair of the GSMA Board. His knowledge and experience
makes him very well positioned to lead the Board and the industry through the current
challenges and opportunities, including how to leverage AI and complete 5G for new
business models and revenues streams." Gopal has served on the GSMA Board in
different capacities for over a decade including as Deputy Chair for the last three
years. Most recently, he was also appointed the Acting Chair of the GSMA board in
early 2025 and has now been formally elected as the Chair of the GSMA board. Gopal
will serve as the Chair of the Boarduntil the end of 2026. The GSMA Board will
announce the election of a new Deputy Chair in due course. Gopal Vittal is currently
the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel and is also a Board
member of Bharti Airtel Limited, Airtel Africa PLC and Indus Towers. Prior to this,
he was the Managing Director & CEO for Airtel for 12 years.