At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, SAMENA Telecommunications Council contributed to a critical discussion on the future of network funding; a key subject in which the Council, represented by CEO & Board Member, Bocar Ba, has been active in driving consensus since 2021.
At MWC Barcelona 2025, Bocar Ba, who is also Chair of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) IAGDI-CRO private-sector representative platform, moderated the panel titled “Is It Time for Big Tech to Pay Their Fair Share? The Case for Backing Telecom Networks.” The panel also featured Denis O'Brien (Digicel), Lauren Ballerin Cereza (Member of the European Parliament, Spain), and Shahid Ahmed (NTT).
The SAMENA Council-led discussion delved into the rapid growth of digital services, driven by AI, cloud computing, streaming, and the Internet of Things (IoT), and how this creates pressures on traditional investors, i.e., Telecom Operators, and on digital service providers as well as financial institutions to unite forces in building future digital infrastructure.
“Today’s discussion made it clear that a new, shared responsibility model for network funding is long overdue,” said Bocar Ba. “As policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders, we must work together to create an environment where sustainable financing, regulatory harmonization, and industry consolidation are prioritized. Particularly in Europe, fragmented policies and outdated funding models are stifling innovation and putting the future of connectivity at risk.”
The discussion, focused on the urgent need for shared responsibility in network funding, a concept SAMENA Council has championed over the years through its leadership in developing consensus on broadband infrastructure development through innovative funding approaches. “Our discussion today has been a part of a series of deliberations that SAMENA Council has been privileged to lead over the years, including within the UN Broadband Commission. This discussion points strongly to the need for a more equitable, forward-looking approach to funding digital infrastructure. Policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, digital service providers, Telecom Operators, and all those having direct stake in the digital future, must act to build an environment where each stakeholder plays a contributing part in sustaining the infrastructure our digital economies rely on.”
The panel discussion was deeply informed by insights from Vodafone’s recent report, “A Framework for Responsible Use of Networks,” which has brought to light several challenges. Chief among them is the unsustainable growth of data consumption driven by AI, streaming, and advertising-based business models, which are pushing current networks to their breaking point. Telecom Operators in many parts of the world, including in the markets of the SA-ME-NA region as well as in Europe, are facing the dual challenge of limited resources and a rapidly growing demand for digital connectivity. As Vodafone’s report highlights, Operators’ difficulties and network inefficiencies continue to magnify due to multiple factors, including sustainability challenges in infrastructure investments, regulatory frameworks, and an overall lack of flexibility to manage traffic effectively. Operators require other stakeholders to contribute their share of financial resources to help sustain digital communication networks.
The panel discussion also explored funding solutions that have worked well in other parts of the world, such as South Korea, Peru, and the U.S. These models, which include negotiated traffic contributions, public-private partnerships, and incentivized investment structures, provide a roadmap for addressing the growing imbalance in network funding. The discussion during MWC25 helped build the case for urgently transitioning from fragmented funding models to a shared financing responsibility model. Moreover, the discussion also highlighted how Europe has the opportunity to redefine the future of its digital infrastructure by implementing new infrastructure models that catalyze new digital growth and innovation in the European digital ecosystems.
SAMENA Council is of the view that there is a dire need for a shared, global approach to funding digital infrastructure, particularly in various part of the SA-ME-NA region, including the Arab States. Considering that the majority of the world's digital traffic is being carried by Telecom Operators, while billions of people still remain excluded from the digital economy, it is essential to build a truly inclusive digital future. This necessitates rethinking and implementing new broadband funding approaches around the world.
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