Intelligence and Noise

GSMA Intelligence

The mobile and telecoms industry generates a lot of signal. And a lot of noise. The hard part is knowing the difference. Intelligence & Noise is the podcast from GSMA Intelligence — the research and data arm of the GSMA, the organisation that represents the global mobile industry. Every week Peter Jarich and Tim Hatt cut through the hype to bring you honest, evidence-based conversations about what's really happening in mobile, connectivity, and the technology trends shaping our world.

Episodes

  1. 7h ago

    AI RAN, 5G Sensing and Smartphone Costs: The Next Shift in Telecom Innovation I Episode 8

    What happens when the AI boom starts changing the phones in our pockets, the networks that connect us, and the future of telecom innovation? In this episode of Intelligence & Noise, Peter Jarich and Pau Castells unpack the hidden impact of AI on the connectivity ecosystem , ,from rising smartphone costs and digital inclusion challenges to the race for AI-powered networks and 5G sensing breakthroughs. They explore whether AI RAN can transform network efficiency, how 6G ambitions are taking shape, and whether the telecom industry is chasing the latest AI advances or focusing on the solutions that truly matter.00:00 – Introduction and this week’s telecom industry themes01:30 – Peter’s broken phone story: what smartphone trade-offs reveal about rising costs04:00 – How AI is driving up memory prices and making smartphones more expensive07:15 – The digital inclusion challenge: when device affordability becomes a connectivity barrier09:00 – Could AI also increase the cost of telecom networks and services?11:30 – Why consumers want better phones, not necessarily more AI features13:00 – AI RAN arrives: what operators and vendors are trying to achieve14:00 – Can AI double network efficiency? Examining the promise of smarter networks16:00 – Why “AI RAN” means different things across the telecom industry17:30 – China’s position in the AI RAN race and the impact of chip restrictions20:30 – Ericsson and AT&T’s 5G sensing trial: bringing ISAC into the real world22:15 – Beyond drone detection: finding commercial value for sensing networks24:30 – Why 5G-based ISAC could shape the future of 6G26:00 – World Cup, technology and the changing global sports landscape28:00 – New Chinese AI models and what they mean for the telecom sector30:00 – Do operators need the latest AI models, or just practical solutions?32:15 – The “good enough” AI debate: balancing innovation and business value33:40 – Closing thoughts: AI, connectivity costs and the future of telecom Hosted by Peter Jarich, every week we cover what's moving in mobile, connectivity, and emerging tech and why it matters.

  2. Jul 15

    Inside Europe's Telecom Future: Investment, Policy and Competition | Episode 7

    What do Europe's AI strategy, telecom competitiveness, market consolidation, and SpaceX have in common? In this episode of Intelligence & Noise, Peter Jarich and GSMA Intelligence Chief Economist Pau Castells explore the biggest developments shaping the future of connectivity: from AI infrastructure and digital sovereignty to 5G, 6G, and the policy decisions that will define the next era of telecoms. Join us as we connect the dots between policy, infrastructure, and the future of connectivity.00:00 – Introduction and this week's themes01:15 – Meta's new AI data centre and the sovereignty debate04:00 – European Commission's AI and cybersecurity action plan: what's actually new?11:15 – Why digital sovereignty matters for Europe's telecom future12:20 – South Korea's AI infrastructure investments: a different approach18:30 – AI, 5G Advanced and 6G: connecting network investment to business value20:00 – Why operators need clearer monetisation strategies for new technologies27:10 – GSMA Intelligence's new research on European telecom competitiveness32:20 – Understanding the link between market scale, competition and investment35:50 – Inside the Brussels launch event and policy discussion40:30 – Why robust research matters in the consolidation debate41:30 – SpaceX's 'Starmind' AI infrastructure ambitions and vertical integration43:40 – Closing thoughtsHosted by Peter Jarich, every week we cover what's moving in mobile, connectivity, and emerging tech and why it matters

  3. Jun 17

    Sovereignty, Satellites & AI: The New Infrastructure Race - Episode 3

    AI, space, and telecoms are colliding faster than the industry can price in. In this episode of Intelligence and Noise from GSMA Intelligence, Peter Jarich and Tim unpack the AI infrastructure boom in China and India, the rise of token-based pricing models, and how telcos are trying to monetise the next wave of compute and connectivity. They also dig into digital sovereignty in Europe, the future of satellite networks, and the hype versus physics behind the SpaceX IPO as the race for global-scale infrastructure intensifies. 00:00 – Introduction and connected devices story04:38 – AI security and China/India data center investment07:21 – AI token pricing and monetisation models09:10 – Telco role in AI infrastructure and revenue opportunity14:49 – Sovereign cloud, super apps, and Europe’s digital sovereignty push17:23 – Non-terrestrial networks and satellite compute/control21:03 – SpaceX IPO, valuation, and TAM debate25:24 – Investor hype, Elon premium, and business strategy concerns28:21 – Starlink mobile and addressable market limits29:49 – Satellite scaling limits and orbital capacity constraints31:38 – Orbital competition and geopolitical risks33:08 – MWC Shanghai preview and industry themes34:19 – DTW Ignite Copenhagen preview36:19 – GSMA NOVA Napa event and cross-industry collaboration37:42 – AI grids and future telecom infrastructure models38:42 – Closing remarks and football chat Hosted by Peter Jarich and Tim Hatt, every week we cover what's moving in mobile, connectivity, and emerging tech and why it matters. Got a topic you want us to cover? Drop it in the comments. And if you're enjoying the show, a rating on your platform of choice goes a long way.

About

The mobile and telecoms industry generates a lot of signal. And a lot of noise. The hard part is knowing the difference. Intelligence & Noise is the podcast from GSMA Intelligence — the research and data arm of the GSMA, the organisation that represents the global mobile industry. Every week Peter Jarich and Tim Hatt cut through the hype to bring you honest, evidence-based conversations about what's really happening in mobile, connectivity, and the technology trends shaping our world.

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