ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP):Policymakers and industry leaders are calling for smarter, more sustainable approaches to scaling digital infrastructure across emerging markets. As billions of connected devices come online, telecom leaders at a recent global forum emphasized the need to align digital expansion with eco-efficiency, affordability, and long-term socio-economic impact.
The discussion took place during a session titled Scaling Smart: Eco-Efficiency Across Billions of Connected Devices, part of the GSMA’s M360 Eurasia 2025 summit. Held in Tashkent, the event brought together key players from across Central and South Asia to explore the future of digital transformation in a region grappling with climate risk and connectivity gaps.
Moderated by Alix Jagueneau, Head of External Affairs at the GSMA, the panel featured Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz (Pakistan); Shirin Aliyeva, Chief Legal and Data Strategy Officer at Azercell (Azerbaijan); Koji Kurushima, CEO of MobiCom Corporation (Mongolia); Vjačeslavs Dubovskis, Adviser to Latvia’s Ministry of Climate and Energy; and Sameer Gupta, Advisor at India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI).
Speaking during the session, Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz, emphasized the importance of a more human-centered model of digital development—one that integrates climate resilience, digital inclusion, and financial empowerment into a cohesive and scalable strategy.
“Pakistan isn’t just digitizing—it’s adapting,” he said. “In a country facing climate volatility, energy shortages, and economic pressures, smart devices aren’t a luxury; they are enablers of safety, productivity, and inclusion.”
He pointed to Pakistan’s vulnerabilities—ranking fifth on the global Climate Risk Index—and cited the 2024 surge in solar panel adoption as an example of grassroots adaptation.
“People are using smartphones to monitor solar output, bypass the grid, and take control of their energy futures. This is what distributed resilience looks like.”
Aamir emphasized the power of convergence, where climate adaptation, digital access, and financial inclusion mutually reinforce one another. “A single device connects a woman to financial tools, a farmer to weather alerts, and a household to real-time solar data.
That convergence is the real opportunity—and it’s only scalable when services are affordable, relevant, and trusted.”
“We talk about scaling smart—but smart isn’t about specs. It’s about significance,” Aamir concluded. “The future is not built by pushing more tech—it’s built by connecting more people to income, health, and agency.”
Other panelists underscored the value of cross-sector collaboration and policy alignment in achieving more sustainable digital outcomes. There was broad agreement that scaling devices across billions must also include strategies to extend product lifecycles, reduce environmental impact, and make connectivity more inclusive.
As Eurasia’s digital ecosystem expands, the session made clear that the future of connectivity will depend not just on how many are connected—but on how meaningfully those connections translate into improved lives and resilient communities.