Global alignment on areas such as spectrum allocation, international standards, and digital inclusion is critical to shaping the next generation of mobile technology and ensuring billions of people are not left behind, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin has said.
In a conversation with GSMA director general Vivek Badrinath at the Mobile World Congress Doha 2026, Bogdan-Martin stressed the need for greater interoperability, harmonised spectrum, and globally agreed standards as the telecommunications industry prepares for the transition to 6G.
“It's important that we get in place the right spectrum allocations and the international global standards, which I think are critical,” she said.
She noted that progress in establishing common standards for 5G should carry forward into the next generation of mobile networks, with governments and industry working together to ensure emerging technologies can operate seamlessly.
“The next phase of technological development would extend beyond connectivity to encompass artificial intelligence, connected devices and satellite communications, making interoperability increasingly important,” she noted.
Bogdan-Martin also highlighted the need to build trust and security into digital infrastructure, ensuring that networks and systems are secure and reliable.
Equally important, she said, is ensuring that technological progress does not widen the digital divide, particularly as the world moves towards more advanced digital services.
Badrinath said early engagement between governments, regulators and the telecommunications industry was essential to translating policy alignment into investment and tangible results. Given the long investment cycles in telecommunications, he stressed the importance of predictable policies and long-term regulatory frameworks.
Badrinath emphasised that planning for these requirements must begin well in advance, highlighting the ITU's role in coordinating international spectrum policies.
He also reaffirmed the industry's commitment to global standards, noting that chief executives of major mobile operators had reiterated their support for a unified global approach. The common standards established for 4G and 5G had enabled economies of scale and global innovation, and the industry should preserve these benefits as it moves towards 6G, he said.
Turning to digital inclusion, Bogdan-Martin said that although considerable progress had been made in expanding network coverage, a substantial usage gap remained, with affordability, digital literacy and online safety continuing to prevent many people from accessing digital services.
She called for stronger partnerships between governments, international organisations and industry to address these barriers.
The official noted that smartphone costs remain a major obstacle in many markets, with entry-level handsets costing as much as 76% of monthly income in some countries.
Badrinath said the affordability challenge has become harder because rising memory chip prices, driven by demand from the artificial intelligence sector, have increased costs. Looking towards 2030, he also warned of the risk of a new digital divide emerging around artificial intelligence.
“Since AI systems are largely trained using languages spoken by people who are already online, those without connectivity risk being further disadvantaged if their languages are not adequately represented in AI development,” he noted.
The official stressed the need to train AI models using a wider range of languages so that underserved communities can benefit from emerging technologies rather than face another layer of digital exclusion.
