Baku hosts GSMA M360 Eurasia 2023 International Conference

The international conference GSMA M360 Eurasia 2023 kicked off in the capital of Azerbaijan on May 16.

The two-day event was held with the support of Azercell, Azerbaijan's leading mobile operator, and the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport.

Both regional and international experts took part in the conference. The event focused on three key topics reflecting current trends in technology regionally and globally: next-generation connectivity, ubiquitous digitalisation and open-source technologies. The conference also sought to highlight the growing importance of digital inclusion for the general public and humanitarian aid through networking opportunities.

GSMA Director General Mats Granryd opened the conference by addressing the audience about the digital divide.

The Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, Rashad Nabiyev, spoke about the government's activities in this area, as well as its goals and plans for the future.

"We expect that by the end of 2024, all homes in Azerbaijan will be provided with the Internet. Infrastructure is a major part of our work in this regard," he said.

Jian An, president of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia Region's operator business group, said the digital economy was crucial for economic development in all regions of the world and required a strategic approach.

"Research shows that 55 per cent of global economic growth between 2015 and 2025 will be linked to the digital economy. The contribution of the digital economy is expected to reach 24.3 per cent over this period," he said.

He said investment in ICT was critical to boosting the digital economy, especially in developing countries.

"On average, every dollar invested in the ICT sector adds $3.5 to global GDP.  In developing countries, these investments can lead to an increase of $4.4," Mr Jian said.

He also noted that the digital economy contributes to the growth of the world economy and Azerbaijan is one of the countries leading in this direction.

The second part of the event included a meeting of speakers as well as panel discussions.

"Developments around the world show that the introduction of 5G technologies improves business. Therefore, their introduction in Azerbaijan is a must. This will be achieved by converting investments aimed at 4G technology into 5G. Therefore, it was necessary to ensure the flow of investments," said Mr. David Xu, General Director of Huawei Technologies Azerbaijan LLC.

During the session, the speakers considered the key components of digital sustainability, as well as strategies for building a future-ready digital ecosystem.