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GSMA Intelligence Reveals Telcos Eye on $400Bn Enterprise Opportunity

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A new report from GSMA Intelligence launched ahead of MWC Las Vegas shows Telcos sizing prospects for growth in financial services, manufacturing, automotive and aviation​ – highlighting an addressable market of more than $400bn, looking to grow revenues in the enterprise space. This equates to approximately 35% of the existing mobile operator revenue base worldwide.

The report also shows that telcos need to look beyond connectivity driven solutions and services and take a broader view of the opportunity. Core telecom solution and service areas, such as SD-WAN, unified communications and mobile voice and data, currently contribute around 70% of B2B revenues or $250bn for operators in 2023, although they offer little headroom for growth with just 3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) expected out to 2030.

Conversely, enterprise spending on tech services beyond those core services – including cloud and datacentre, cybersecurity, IoT, analytics, AI, blockchain and network APIs – is around five times the spend on traditional communications at $1.16tn in 2023, with a CAGR of 14% to 2030, growing to become a market worth $2.91tn.

Tim Hatt, Head of Research, GSMA Intelligence, said: “Telcos looking to monetise their investments in 5G need to look beyond consumer centric and basic connectivity driven use cases. Greater focus is needed on offering advanced network solutions such as network slicing and private networks in the short term and developing end-to-end solutions to support a variety of enterprise use cases combined with integration capabilities in the longer term.

“Enterprises are increasingly looking for service providers to integrate a blend of technologies that fit their specific technology environments and business needs. Though the competition is fierce, telcos have assets and capabilities they can leverage to play in over one-third of this trillion-dollar market.”

Manufacturing and financial services offer biggest opportunities

The report highlights characteristics of four key verticals: financial services, manufacturing, automotive and aviation.

In 2023, these sectors presented significant addressable opportunities for telcos, valued at $59 billion, $61 billion, $22 billion and $16 billion respectively. Collectively, they accounted for 37% of the total addressable market opportunity, amounting to $159 billion. Projections indicate robust growth for these markets, with expected CAGR of 10.9%, 12.1%, 12.0%, and 8.4% from 2023 to 2030.

Other markets comprised 63% of the telcos’ growing addressable enterprise tech services beyond core opportunity. This growth is driven by diverse verticals, including healthcare, public sector, retail, media, smart cities, energy and utilities, agriculture, oil & gas, transportation & logistics, professional services, personal & consumer services, mining and ports.

Jo Gilbert, Technical Director and GSMA Connected Manufacturing and Production lead, said: “To bolster operational efficiency, resilience, agility, and flexibility, manufacturing companies are investing in advanced connectivity, IoT, edge, and AI technologies.

“These innovations are generating massive data volumes across factories, requiring stronger data management capabilities to unlock business value. Furthermore, the growing convergence of IT and OT systems has expanded cyberattack surfaces, making cybersecurity a key priority for manufacturers.”

Telcos must be prepared to compete with a diverse array of players

To meet the demands of the market, operators face significant competition not only from their peers and equipment vendors, but also from a broad array of players, including hyperscalers and security vendors. In fact, 24% of operators view hyperscalers as formidable competitors in edge networking and cloud, while 41% view security vendors as key competitors in security.

Operators must invest in building new capabilities, enhancing their existing offerings in key areas like security and exploring partnerships in others such as cloud. By balancing internal investments with external partnerships, operators can remain competitive, optimize resources, and meet the evolving demands of the market.

Hatt continues: “Winning in market needs a new mindset and operational changes. To succeed operators must look to collaborative approaches and new partnerships as well as adopting an enterprise-centric solution-oriented approach; being more like IT consultants than connectivity sellers. Telcos need to consolidate and simplify enterprise portfolios, adapt sales and marketing, and acquire new technical and commercial skills to effectively serve ever-evolving needs of enterprise customers.”

Services beyond connectivity are gaining ground

The latest research tracks with earlier findings from GSMA Intelligence’s “Enterprise Opportunity 2024” survey, published in March 2024, where 36% of the operators said market leadership in enterprise connectivity and services is the primary goal of their B2B strategy; with leadership in enterprise connectivity second.

Historically, connectivity has received the highest share in previous editions of this survey. This is the first time operators have identified connectivity and services as their primary goal.

Furthermore, a majority (64%) of participants said they have already launched 5G services beyond connectivity for enterprises such as 5G IoT, private networks and Mobile Edge Compute. This signals a shift in focus towards services and the need to be good at bundling connectivity with services fit for enterprise needs.

New enterprise survey to be previewed at MWC Las Vegas 2024

As part of our participation at MWC Las Vegas 2024, GSMA Intelligence will be offering an exclusive preview of the forthcoming GSMA Intelligence Digital Transformation Survey 2024 results at the GSMA Pavilion in the exhibition hall, booth 557 — one month prior to the official launch. The survey, conducted with over 4,200 enterprises across 10 vertical sectors and 21 countries, provides a deep dive into digital transformation trends across key sectors such as manufacturing and financial services.

 


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China Expands Zero-Tariff Trade for Nigeria, 52 Other African Nations

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China has announced the full implementation of a zero-tariff scheme for 53 African countries, including Nigeria, under the Changsha Declaration, further strengthening economic ties within the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The announcement, made by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed a high-level meeting between Chinese officials and African foreign ministers in Changsha. The initiative stems from commitments made during the 2024 Beijing Summit of FOCAC, which focused on building a stronger China-Africa partnership in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

According to a statement released after the meeting, the representatives of China, 53 African nations, and the African Union Commission affirmed their commitment to creating an “all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.”

The declaration highlighted the rising influence of the Global South and underscored the importance of collaboration in advancing development, multilateralism, and equitable global governance. It also criticized growing unilateralism, protectionism, and economic coercion, calling on countries, particularly the United States, to resolve trade disputes through mutual respect and dialogue.

The ministry stressed that African nations face pressing economic and developmental challenges that demand urgent international attention. It urged for increased development assistance, rather than cuts, to support poverty reduction and infrastructure growth across the continent.

In a significant move, China committed to expanding zero-tariff treatment to 100 percent of tariff lines for all 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with Beijing, excluding Eswatini, which has no official diplomatic ties. This will allow greater access for African goods to the Chinese market.

For Africa’s least developed countries, the plan includes enhanced market access measures, streamlined inspection and customs procedures, and increased technical training and trade facilitation.

Additionally, China pledged support for the African Union’s Agenda 2063, with a focus on modernization and sustainable development.

The Chinese government also announced plans to implement the China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development, deepen cooperation in green industries, e-commerce, science and technology, artificial intelligence, finance, and legal frameworks.

The statement also reaffirmed plans to strengthen people-to-people ties, including initiatives like the “2026 Year of People-to-People Exchanges.”

In September 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed five memoranda of understanding during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Speaking at the Beijing summit, Tinubu described the China-Africa relationship as a “true testament” to the strength of mutual respect and cooperation.

Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar later confirmed that the agreements signed with China are in various stages of implementation.


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Aliko Dangote Signs out @ Dangote Sugar Refinery as Chairman

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Aliko Dangote
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In a major leadership transition, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (DSR) has announced the retirement of  Aliko Dangote, its founder and chairman, from the Board, effective June 16, 2025.

Aliko Dangote Signs out @ Dangote Sugar Refinery as Chairman

Aliko Dangote

The announcement was made in a regulatory filing with the Nigerian Exchange Ltd on June 11, highlighting the company’s commitment to sound corporate governance and structured succession planning.

In a statement signed by Mrs. Temitope Hassan (FCIS), company secretary and legal adviser, the Board praised Dangote’s extraordinary leadership and lasting contributions to the company.

“Alhaji Aliko Dangote is one of the founding Directors of the Company and has served with exceptional leadership, integrity, and vision since 2005,” the statement read.

“Under his stewardship, Dangote Sugar Refinery transformed significantly, navigated industry changes, consistently delivered value to shareholders, and upheld strong governance principles.”

Widely regarded as Africa’s most influential industrialist, Dangote led DSR’s evolution into a dominant player in Nigeria’s sugar value chain.

His strategic initiatives, particularly the Backward Integration Projects (BIPs) across Adamawa, Taraba, and Nasarawa States, advanced the company’s self-sufficiency goals and aligned with the federal government’s national sugar master plan.

While stepping down from DSR, Dangote will continue as President of Dangote Industries Limited.

His legacy at DSR is marked by industrial innovation, strategic foresight, and sustained operational excellence.

To ensure a seamless transition, the Board has appointed Mr. Arnold Ekpe, a seasoned independent non-executive director, as the new chairman, effective June 16.

Ekpe is renowned for his tenure as Group CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, where he championed pan-African financial inclusion and institutional growth.

His extensive experience in banking and corporate governance is expected to strengthen DSR’s next phase of development.

The leadership change signals continuity of vision, with DSR reaffirming its focus on operational efficiency and long-term value creation in a dynamic market.

For shareholders and industry observers, Dangote’s exit from the Board marks the end of a transformational era—one defined by bold ambition and strategic execution—while opening a new chapter under Ekpe’s leadership.

 

 

 

 


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Report Reveals New Malware Posing as an AI Assistant Steals User Data

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Kaspersky Global Research & Analysis Team researchers have discovered a new malicious campaign which is distributing a Trojan through a fake DeepSeek-R1 Large Language Model (LLM) app for PCs.

The previously unknown malware is delivered via a phishing site pretending to be the official DeepSeek homepage that is promoted via Google Ads.

The goal of the attacks is to install BrowserVenom, a malware that configures web browsers on the victim’s device to channel web traffic through the attackers servers, thus allowing to collect user data – credentials and other sensitive information. Multiple infections have been detected in Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, India, Nepal, South Africa and Egypt.

DeepSeek-R1 is one of the most popular LLMs right now, and Kaspersky has previously reported attacks with malware mimicking it to attract victims. DeepSeek can also be run offline on PCs using tools like Ollama or LM Studio, and attackers used this in their campaign.

Users were directed to a phishing site mimicking the address of the original DeepSeek platform via Google Ads, with the link showing up in the ad when a user searched for “deepseek r1”.

Once the user reached the fake DeepSeek site, a check was performed to identify the victim’s operating system. If it was Windows, the user was presented with a button to download the tools for working with the LLM offline. Other operating systems were not targeted at the time of research.

After clicking on the button and passing the CAPTCHA test, a malicious installer file was downloaded and the user was presented with options to download and install Ollama or LM Studio.

If either option was chosen, along with legitimate Ollama or LM Studio installers, malware got installed in the system bypassing Windows Defender’s protection with a special algorithm.

This procedure also required administrator privileges for the user profile on Windows; if the user profile on Windows did not have these privileges, the infection would not take place.

After the malware was installed, it configured all web browsers in the system to forcefully use a proxy controlled by the attackers, enabling them to spy on sensitive browsing data and monitor the victim’s browsing activity.

Because of its enforcing nature and malicious intent, Kaspersky researchers have dubbed this malware BrowserVenom.

“While running large language models offline offers privacy benefits and reduces reliance on cloud services, it can also come with substantial risks if proper precautions aren’t taken.

Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting the popularity of open-source AI tools by distributing malicious packages and fake installers that can covertly install keyloggers, cryptominers, or infostealers.

These fake tools compromise a user’s sensitive data and pose a threat, particularly when users have downloaded them from unverified sources,” comments Lisandro Ubiedo, Security Researcher with Kaspersky’s Global Research & Analysis Team.


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