Doha: Chief Regulatory Officer at the GSMA, John Giusti, stated that the upcoming MWC Doha 2025 Conference, hosted for the first time in the region, underscores Qatar's leadership in digital transformation. He emphasized Qatar's role as a pioneering platform in this field at both regional and global levels.

According to Qatar News Agency, Giusti elaborated on the conference's comprehensive program, which includes a ministerial program aimed at leveraging Qatar's leadership. This initiative is set to unite over fifty government delegations worldwide to foster cooperation, share expertise, and explore effective strategies to support digital transformation across the GCC, the Middle East, and North Africa. Giusti emphasized the critical role of integrating industry, investment, and government policy, highlighting the ministerial program's significance in providing governments access to the latest technological innovations and policy-making insights essential for maximizing the benefits of digitization.

Giusti identified the primary challenge for governments as creating a regulatory environment conducive to investment. This environment is crucial for enabling companies to develop superior networks and offer advanced digital services benefiting individuals, economic sectors, and society. He noted the GSMA's Mobile for Development initiative, which supports vulnerable groups' integration into the digital economy, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Moreover, Giusti pointed out that usage, not coverage, remains the biggest challenge, with about 38 percent of the global population having access to mobile internet but not utilizing it due to affordability issues and a lack of digital skills.

In concluding his remarks to QNA, Giusti highlighted the strategic partnership with Qatar's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology as a vital step in advancing digital transformation. He affirmed that the involvement of numerous government delegations and international organizations in the ministerial program symbolizes a collective commitment to promoting digital development, ensuring the prosperity of individuals, industries, and society.