GSMA M360 Eurasia Emphasizes AI and 5G Innovations in Tashkent

GSMA M360 Eurasia Highlights AI and 5G Innovations in Tashkent

The inaugural GSMA M360 Eurasia has landed in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, marking a significant gathering of policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators. The event aims to spotlight the potential for digital transformation across the Eurasian landscape and promotes collaboration, particularly in artificial intelligence and 5G technologies.

A New Era for Digital Transformation

With a focus on inclusivity and growth, this year's GSMA M360 establishes regional voices and addresses often overlooked languages at the heart of its discussions. The conference, organized in partnership with the Uzbekistan Ministry of Digital Technologies and hosted by Beeline Uzbekistan, serves as a crucial platform for exploring new avenues of digital advancements.

A key highlight of the M360 event is the unveiling of the Kaz-LLM, an AI language model developed collaboratively by Kazak research institutions and VEON, which aims to assist in bridging the AI language gap for low-resourced languages. This development allows for seamless interaction in Kazakh, Turkish, English, and Russian, showcasing how language technology can promote inclusion and accessibility.

Economic Impact of Mobile Technologies

The recently published GSMA Mobile Economy Eurasia report delineates a promising outlook for mobile technologies, projecting a contribution of $270 billion to the Eurasian economy by 2030, which equates to roughly 8.3% of the regional GDP. Notably, there is an expectation that 5G connections will expand significantly to reach approximately 143 million by 2030, making up 41% of total mobile connections.

Furthermore, the report indicates that by 2024, two-thirds of the Eurasian population will utilize mobile internet, roughly translating to 164 million users. However, despite these encouraging statistics, there remains a considerable digital divide, with nearly 80 million individuals not currently engaging with mobile internet services, even within covered areas.

Connectivity: A Driver of Economic Growth

Vivek Badrinath, the GSMA's Director General, emphasized the vital role that connectivity plays as an engine for economic growth. He noted that last year alone, mobile technologies generated $220 billion of economic value across Eurasia, underscoring the importance of continued investment and advancements in this sector. Badrinath highlighted GSMA M360 as an essential forum for fostering dialogue on accelerating digital progress through collaborative efforts.

Conclusion - Looking Forward

The GSMA M360 Eurasia not only emphasizes the substantial impact of AI and 5G on the regional economy but also sets a precedent for how technology can drive innovation and connectivity in underserved populations. As stakeholders engage in discussions over the next few days, the focus remains clear: collaboration, ambition, and cutting-edge innovation will pave the way for a digitally empowered future across Eurasia.

This event underscores the shared vision of industry leaders to harness the power of mobile technology and drive inclusive growth throughout the region.