Airtel MD Gopal Vittal named GSMA chairman

Global telecom industry body GSMA’s board of directors has elected Bharti Airtel vice chairman and managing director Gopal Vittal as its new chairman till the end of 2026.

At present, Vittal is acting chair of the GSMA board. He will oversee the strategic direction of the London-based industry body that represents 1,000 telecom companies, handset and device companies, software companies, equipment providers, internet companies, and organisations in adjacent industry sectors.

Vittal is the second Indian after Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Mittal to be elected chairman of the GSMA board. His appointment underlines the significant influence Airtel has in the global telecom industry. “The mobile industry contributed $6.5 trillion to the global economy in 2024. The GSMA, as a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem, is fundamental to discover, develop and deliver innovation,” Vittal said.