Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete, Chairman and CEO of Telefonica, has been re-elected as Chair of the GSMA until December 2026. He first took this role in February 2022, making him the first Spanish company representative to lead the GSMA.
His re-election reflects recognition of his work in a critical time for the telecom sector, which has become a vital pillar for Europe’s progress, as highlighted by the Draghi Report.
During his tenure, Alvarez-Pallete spearheaded initiatives like the Open Gateway, marking a shift in how telecoms design and market services in the API economy. He also championed the ethical and responsible use of technology, particularly AI, leading to the first sector-wide roadmap.
He emphasized the importance of closing the digital divide to ensure the benefits of digitalization reach the most vulnerable and that the tech revolution serves people, companies, and society.
The GSMA consists of over 1,100 companies from the global connectivity ecosystem. Mobile technology contributed 5.4 percent of global GDP in 2023, equaling $5.7 trillion and supporting 35 million jobs.
By the end of 2023, 5.6 billion people (69 percent of the world’s population) subscribed to mobile services, and 4.7 billion people used mobile internet, marking significant growth since 2015.