Brazil Receives 2005 GSM Association Chairman’s Award
Communications leadership earns top mobile industry accolade
3GSM World Congress, Cannes, France-/16 Feb, 2005 - The Wi-Fi Technology Forum/- Massive GSM growth in Latin America’s largest mobile market – and fourth largest in the world - was recognised last night as the GSM Association Chairman’s Award for Country Leadership was presented to Brazil last night, during the awards evening of the 3GSM World Congress.
Two and a half years after launching the first GSM services, Brazil boasts more than 22 million GSM subscribers today. Based on current growth, GSM will become the country’s leading mobile technology by end February 2005.
“The Brazilian government that has clearly recognised the full value that mobility can unlock for its citizens, and has done so in spectacular fashion,” said Craig Ehrlich, Chairman of the GSM Association.
“Brazil has benefited from the foresight of its regulator ANATEL to open up the mobile communications market to full competition – creating a fair and open competitive environment that has catalysed the GSM industry, and attracted massive inward investment to the tune of more than US$5 billion as a result,” said Ehrlich.
“Since ANATEL’S decision, some 40,000 new jobs have been created in this country by GSM, making it one of the most important international roaming markets in the world.”
The Deputy Minister of Communications for Brazil, Mr. Paulo de Tarso Lustosa da Costa, accepted the award on behalf of his country.
During his presentation, Craig Ehrlich underlined the GSM Association’s initiative to create a new ‘low cost handset market segment’ that will greatly benefit customers across emerging markets of the world. He called on governments to partner with the mobile industry; “to help further reduce the barriers to providing communications for people who otherwise cannot afford to enjoy the many benefits that we take for granted.”
The GSM Association Chairman’s Award was established ten years ago as a public acknowledgement of outstanding contributions, either from an individual or an organization, to the development of the GSM standard worldwide. In 2004, the Award was presented to China Mobile Communications Corporation.
The sponsors of the 2005 GSM Association Awards are:
Intel Corporation – Platinum sponsor
Microsoft – Category Sponsor: Marketing & promotion
Nokia – Category Sponsor: Applications, Content & Services
Vodafone – Category Sponsor: “Mobile in the Community”
Fortune Magazine – Chairman’s Award sponsor
CNBC Europe - Official broadcast Media Partner
About the GSM Association:
The GSM Association (GSMA) is the operator-led trade association representing the global mobile industry.
Encompassing technical, commercial and public policy initiatives, the GSMA focuses on ensuring wireless services work globally, thereby enhancing the value of mobile services to individual customers and national economies while creating new business opportunities for operators and their suppliers.
At the end of 2004, the Association embraced more than 650 operator members serving more than 1.25 billion customers across 210 countries and territories. More than 150 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association’s initiatives as key partners. The GSM community accounts for 75% of the digital mobile phone market worldwide.
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