Gopal Vittal Appointed Chairman of GSMA Board, Strengthening Airtel’s Global Influence
The GSMA Board of Directors has officially elected Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, as its new Chairman, a position he will hold until the end of 2026. Vittal, who had been serving as the Acting Chair since early 2025, is only the second Indian to lead the global telecom industry body, following in the footsteps of Bharti Airtel founder Sunil Bharti Mittal.
With over 1,000 member companies, including telecom operators, software providers, equipment manufacturers, and internet firms, GSMA plays a pivotal role in shaping the mobile communications industry. Vittal’s appointment underscores Airtel’s growing influence on the global telecom landscape.
Strengthening Global Telecom Leadership
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Vittal emphasised the mobile industry’s massive economic contribution and its role in driving innovation.
“I am honoured 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 backbone of global innovation. GSMA plays a crucial role in unifying the mobile ecosystem, and I look forward to working closely with the Board to drive positive change,” he said.
Mats Granryd, Director General of GSMA, welcomed Vittal’s leadership, citing his deep industry knowledge and experience in tackling evolving challenges like AI integration and the expansion of 5G.
“I have worked with Mr. Vittal for many years and am delighted to see him take on this role. His expertise makes him well-positioned to guide the industry through new business models and revenue streams,” Granryd remarked.
Vittal has been an active member of the GSMA Board for over a decade, serving in various capacities, including as Deputy Chair for the past three years. His election as Chairman reinforces Airtel’s leadership role in global telecom discussions.
Currently, Vittal also serves as Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel and holds board positions at Airtel Africa PLC and Indus Towers. Having led Airtel’s operations for over 12 years, he has been instrumental in the company’s expansion and strategic growth.
The GSMA Board is expected to announce the election of a new Deputy Chair in the coming weeks.
About Airtel Africa
Airtel Africa is a leading telecom and mobile money services provider operating in 14 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, serving over 156 million customers. The company focuses on enhancing digital and financial inclusion while delivering high-quality mobile connectivity.
For more details, visit www.airtel.africa.
About GSMA
The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop, and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach.
This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
